Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Amendments Nos. 2, 4 and 5 would have the effect of requiring that the Dublin appointed day order would come under section 5(1). It would also require that both Ministers would have to be satisfied as to the operational and financial readiness of all three airports before making the Dublin order as well as the Cork and Shannon orders. These amendments are contrary to the policy objective of establishing the Dublin Airport authority and the Cork and Shannon authorities as soon as possible. It is intended that the Cork and Shannon authorities will be formally established so that they can undertake the business planning for their airports in advance of the appointed days when the airport assets will be transferred to them.

Amendment No. 3 would provide in section 5(1) that the order setting the appointed day for Cork and Shannon authorities would require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. This is unnecessary since section 17(3) provides for the laying of the appointed day draft orders for Cork and Shannon before each House of the Oireachtas. Such orders will not be made unless they are approved by resolutions passed by both Houses.

Assuming the House passes the Bill, when it is signed by the President a number of procedures will be put in place by the Department and legal and financial advice will be sought before the commencement of the three airports' boards. I envisage doing that as soon as possible but it will take some weeks before the detailed work of establishing the boards will be completed.