Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

The Minister will agree that Dublin Airport is not just the heart of Ireland in terms of economic growth but the heart and lungs of the country. As a former member of Fingal County Council for many years, I am aware of how important the airport is to the eastern region and to Ireland as a whole. Fingal and the wider area has grown and has developed many companies in the vicinity of Dublin Airport and Dublin's tourism industry has grown because of it.

As the Minister mentioned, 17 million passengers used Dublin Airport in 2004. We expect that number to grow to 30 million by 2018. This is good for the country. In order to sustain this airport and the economic growth in trade and tourism, we must ensure Dublin Airport grows with development and the increased numbers. This growth should be planned and dealt with in a timely fashion but that has not been the case to date. The Government promised that it would assess the need for a second terminal in Dublin as part of its programme for Government in 2002. How long will it take? I accept the Minister's statement that he wishes to bring proposals to Government shortly but it is taking far too long.

The previous Minister asked for expressions of interest in 2002 and received 13. I do not know why a decision was not taken based on these before now. A number of reports, including the Mullarkey report, assessed them and reported problems with the sites identified by the DAA. I will cite Fingal County Council's development plan. It recommends that a site to the west of the existing terminal would be the best option. This is not the DAA site.

I will not get hung up on questions of ownership and do not believe any Member should. We must search for the best site and examine what is best for the airport. If we muddy the waters with issues of ownership, such as sites owned by the DAA or the future of Aer Lingus, we will not make decisions based on the best interest of the growth of Dublin Airport. We must examine the wider picture.

I am not hung up on ownership but believe in competition. I see a role for the DAA in the future. I do not understand why it could not develop a site to the west of the airport which is in private ownership at present. That site could then be vested in the Dublin Airport Authority but run by an independent operator. That could give us the best of both worlds. I would like such a venture to be considered. We should avoid monopolies at all costs and introduce competition. That is what will deliver growth at the airport, result in an increase in the number of people visiting this country and deliver the low cost airlines.

It is important we deal with this issue quickly. We want to sustain the airport. As many speakers have said, the situation at the airport is unacceptable. One would not see the likes of the overcrowding and the appalling situation at carousels when one is trying to get baggage after a flight anywhere else. The situation is even worse than that which one would see in the Third World. There is a need for urgency in respect of this issue and that is why I support the Fine Gael motion and reject the Government amendment.

The issue of security, which the Minister addressed, has caused much concern among the users of the airport. It is important the Minister restores confidence among the travelling public so people know that when they go to the airport or step on an aeroplane, they are safe. In light of recent terrorist attacks, people are cautious and worried about travelling on aeroplanes. It is, therefore, important people are reassured and that the Minister ensures safety measures taken at the airport are of the highest standard. What we witnessed last week was bizarre and would be funny if it were not as serious. I accept the measures the Minister will put in place will address that problem. I am surprised the audits, which the Minister said are carried out regularly, did not highlight the failures which showed up last week during the tests. The delays at the airport and the fact people are missing flights does not inspire confidence. I hope those issues will be addressed quickly.