Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

There is no new intention in the Bill other than to carry through what was in the 1998 legislation, which allowed Aer Rianta to invest in other airports and to get involved in their management. We are carrying that through to the new authorities, which is what is before us here. I have no plans to bring the regional airports into State ownership.

In regard to Dusseldorf and so on, I explained earlier that the shareholding in the companies is held by ARI or some special corporate vehicles attached to ARI. This is where they will remain until the relevant board decides whether to hold on to the investments, sell them or make further investments. I envisage the airports will have maximum freedom to invest in and seek to manage other airports, if it appears to be a good business strategy for the airport in question.