Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister for Transport and his senior civil servants who are here to advise him on the Bill. I thank him for bringing this important legislation to the Seanad in the first instance. While the title, the International Interests in Mobile Equipment (Cape Town Convention) Bill, does not grab one as especially significant, a reading of its details reveal its great importance. The Bill has major implications for the aviation industry. The Department of Transport, in which I served as a Minister of State in 1982, is very progressive. It has many issues to deal with at present. It was deeply involved in securing the international registry for the State. Sixty people will be employed in Ireland. The company recently announced the expansion of its activities in Letterkenny which will involve the employment of a further 123 staff. Aviareto will be a small employer with fewer than ten staff based at SITA's office in Dublin. It is most encouraging that we could secure this deal through our diplomatic service and the work of the Department and that we were successful in beating off stiff competition from Canada, Singapore and Spain which are all most progressive countries. Singapore is not a large country but it is very advanced in aviation terms. It is a great success for the Department.

I am delighted the Land Registry was involved in the registering process. As the Minister is aware, it is due to relocate to Roscommon so there is a local link between the Bill and decentralisation to Roscommon. As far as I can see the Land Registry had an input into the preparation of this registry. I welcome the Bill.

This is an exciting time in aviation with the successful take-off and landing of the Airbus A380. I welcome its successful test flight. This aeroplane can cater for up to 800 people on one flight which has certain risks involved. It will be a major competitor for the jumbo jet. Will the Minister confirm if the landing aprons at Dublin Airport can cater for the Airbus A380? That is the direction in which the future of aviation is going.

We constantly hear about the difficult situation in Dublin Airport. Having used the airport in many different capacities over the years, I must say I did not find its management to be the greatest. It has neglected a great asset. I could never understand why one had to drive up to five miles to park one's car. It was disgraceful that one had to wait for a bus to turn up on coming back from a holiday at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. in the morning. The management at Dublin Airport deserves to be replaced by an authority which will be far more progressive than it has been heretofore.

This is an important period in the development of Dublin Airport and the Minister, Deputy Cullen, is fortunate to be Minister for Transport on the eve of important decisions for Aer Lingus, the Dublin Airport Authority and the other airports. The Minister appears to have an open mind on these matters. The duty of the Government is to ensure the decision taken is in the best interests of Ireland Incorporated. That is the fundamental purpose of the Minister in this matter.

Ulick McEvaddy's presentation of his concept for the airport in last Sunday's newspaper article sounds very exciting, as does the proposal by Bernard McNamara. Neither of these people has approached me and I have no involvement in the matter, good, bad or indifferent. My only interest is from the point of view of the best possible decision being taken for Dublin Airport. Bernard McNamara has also acquired land adjoining Dublin Airport. He is a former county council colleague from Clare County Council and a former candidate for Dáil Éireann. He has also put forward very exciting plans for his concept. I am not sure if the Minister will have one, two or three new terminals in Dublin Airport. There are certainly great options available.

I very much resent the recent advertisement by Michael O'Leary. I cannot understand why he does it. The headline reads: "Habemus chaos at Dublin Airport." Depicting the Taoiseach as Pope Benedict XVI is a very serious matter. I cannot understand why an individual running a successful airline would do this. We should remember that he did not found the company. It was created a long time ago by the Ryan family whom I compliment. They do not appear to get much recognition for what was achieved in setting up Ryanair. Michael O'Leary might like it but I do not think the public is very impressed by that type of advertisement. The travelling public is paying for them.

I am more concerned about the cutbacks in Ryanair where staff in headquarters are not allowed to charge their telephones. That is rather petty. As Senator Ó Murchú said, we will probably be charged for the oxygen in aeroplanes if the opportunity arises in future. That said, I know nothing about Mr. O'Leary but he is probably delighted that he gets mentioned in the House and that he is recognised. I do not think any individual will browbeat the Taoiseach or the Minister, Deputy Cullen, as far as making the right decision is concerned.

The right decision will be made by the Government when it looks at all the options, their effects, the speed with which they can be implemented, who will manage this situation and if there will be competition within the airport. The Minister already said he wants competition with airports abroad not internally, which would result in chaos ensuing.

I heard an expert on the matter speaking recently on the radio. He explained that one overall management should be put in place to control the situation, but the internal details of who runs what was not relevant. The taking off and landing of aeroplanes must be controlled by one agency so as to avoid chaos. I endorse the work the Government has been doing for a considerable time in this regard. It is close to decision time. I wish the Government well in its decision. I have a completely open mind as far as the proposals are concerned but I am attracted by individuals who can put up a case to supply a terminal building to the State and lease it to the airport authority. That kind of initiative should be encouraged. I commend those individuals and hope they can all be taken on board in this exciting development.

From my experience of Baldonnel Aerodrome, which is out of the city, there is potential for its development for the use of small aircraft. The Minister has probably been briefed in this regard. The Air Corps is based there. Most European airports have a military aspect. It is worth looking at this matter. Senator Ó Murchú referred to Knock Airport which was a tremendous success for Monsignor Horan, the Fianna Fáil Administration and Charles Haughey. I was on the Front Bench when the invitation came in from Monsignor Horan to the Leader of the Opposition who at that time said he would yield to nobody but the Pope regarding the invitation. If the Pope was going to open it I think Charles Haughey would have stepped aside, which brings me back to the aforementioned newspaper advertisement. I was very proud to be there when Knock Airport was opened by Charles Haughey, then Leader of the Opposition.

It is a pity the registry was not in place when another Government spiked Irish Shipping. It was the greatest scandal in the history of the State that the plug was pulled on it. I will not refer to the Minister who was responsible because he is deceased but Garret FitzGerald's Government pulled the plug on that industry. I hope the Minister will be able to do something for those men and women who were badly treated because I think they have a case against the Department.