John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

The considerable emphasis on the business plan is a red herring. There is a great difference between a business plan and a risk evaluation. They are not the same. The Minister was correct when he said yesterday and again on radio this morning that it is up to the boards to produce business plans. Nobody can impose business plans on boards about to come into operation. The legislation provides for publicly owned autonomous companies, guaranteed by Government, to compete aggressively and secure business for their regions and to thrive and prosper. I am sure the boards will fulfil that task diligently.

The continuing inference that we are somehow stumbling in the dark into the future must be rejected. That is not the case. As the Minister outlined yesterday, Aer Rianta already operates to a business plan. The template for this already exists. It is definitely a matter for the boards to decide their future. We cannot impose business plans on them. They will do the job effectively.