Mary White (Fianna Fail)

Having worked in Dublin Airport on the building of the new airport in 1970, I speak from experience. I went in and out of it four and five time a week developing my business. The building, the flow of passengers and the manner in which luggage is dealt with is appalling.It is not the fault of the previous airport authority or the current airport authority but the Government that did not deliver on time a proper airport infrastructure. It cannot cope.

Approximately ten years ago, when I was a member of the council of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, I pushed for a second terminal. With vision, Casement Aerodrome will be developed as a second airport for those coming from the south. In our Government manifesto in 2002, we said we would proceed with a second terminal. We are talking about the Government acting on behalf of the taxpayers whose money is paying for Dublin Airport. It should get on with it and make the decision because it is holding back the image of our country abroad.

As Senator Ryan said, the pressure put on the architects and engineers who designed Dublin Airport is cruel. The original airport building, which was built in the 1950s, is a work of art and its design is perfect. The 1970 design of the new airport was first class but the manner in which it has grown organically is appalling. I came through the airport on Monday week and looked at the chaos and the flow of the passengers coming in. This has nothing to do with security but the lack of a concept about the design of the airport.

Having worked in the airport, I have a vested interest. That was where we grew our business because we had a captive market. The size of the terminal cannot deal with the 17 million people currently using it. It is a role of Government to plan for infrastructure——