Derek McDowell (Labour)

I want to address the issue of a new airport. I accept what the Minister said on amendment No. 24. When reading the Bill, I was struck that this subsection was included because it appears to be an afterthought. It appears it was suddenly decided when drafting a Bill seeking to restructure the existing airports to throw in two or three subsections which relate to the possibility of a new airport. Nonetheless, it gives us an opportunity to tease out one or two issues relating to the new terminal. It appears this is hugely important in the context of the overall restructuring. The Minister said this morning that Dublin is certain to be thriving and successful in the future, and perhaps that will be the case. If what is a State asset were to be undermined by a terminal or another airport in private ownership, it is possible to imagine circumstances where Dublin Airport authority will be left with a wasting asset in Collinstown. It is unlikely but it is not too difficult to imagine that will be the case.

I wanted to use the amendment as a vehicle to invite the Minister to set out his thinking in regard to the new terminal. He blocked spectacularly the development of pier D by Aer Rianta last year. He is on record as saying that he favours a new terminal. Perhaps he will let us know when he envisages a Government decision on the new terminal and giving a direction to the Dublin Airport authority in that regard in the near future.