Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

Section 9(5) provides that "the memorandum and articles of association of Aer Rianta may be amended in such manner as may for the purpose of the restructuring be determined by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance". This is an enabling provision in the event that any amendment is required to Aer Rianta's memoranda and articles to take account of the restructuring. After the Dublin appointed day, this subsection will no longer be relevant as Aer Rianta will have been renamed the Dublin Airport authority and it will not be possible for Aer Rianta to seek the approval of the Dublin Airport authority. The proposed amendment is not in keeping with the sequence of events envisaged under the Bill and therefore I cannot accept it.

With regard to amendment No. 29, the reason for the provision that the initial memorandum and articles of association for Cork and Shannon is drawn up is that it is considered that the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, should draft memoranda and articles tailored to the specific statutory remit being given to the companies during this transitional phase. After the appointed day for these authorities, their memoranda and articles will change to make them consistent with the Act of 1998 which, therefore, keeps the correct sequence.