Shane Ross (Independent)

Those who are benefiting from this decision are the Fianna Fáil Party — the Progressive Democrats are suffering — and the trade union movement. This is because they have a coincidence of interest here. The Fianna Fáil Party hopes this decision will hold the north Dublin seats. Its means of doing this is to keep the trade unions happy. The trade unions will be happy if the workforce is happy and intact. The vast number of staff at Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta are resident in north Dublin. If the trade unions are kept happy, the workers will vote for Fianna Fáil and hold those seats. God help the Labour Party which was completely out-manoeuvred. It sat there while the Taoiseach used his party's trade unions. The trade unions, in particular SIPTU, continue to fund the Labour Party and dictate policy to Fianna Fáil. It is a pretty good trick. They have both parties in their pockets. That is the agenda which has driven this so-called "aviation action plan". I do not believe it is an aviation action plan. This is a little sordid deal hatched because Aer Rianta and Aer Lingus had the same trade unions. It was agreed to let the trade unions decide the agenda and to call it an aviation action plan.

There was, however, a minor tussle in the background when the Progressive Democrats kicked up a little and said it did not like the State's approach and wanted some private enterprise to save its face. It was given a couple of fig leaves but lost its bottle on this issue. It comprehensively lost the Aer Lingus battle on which it was outwitted and just conceded on the airport battle with Aer Rianta.

I have not heard any credible justification for giving the contract to build, design and own the second terminal to the same organisation that has made a complete and utter mess of the first terminal. I would have thought there would have been a sine qua non on this issue, that this would be an open tender to all comers, except one which has proved beyond doubt its utter incompetence. However, the Government has decided to award the contract to the one organisation that has proved its incompetence.

It is extraordinary that those who have proved most incompetent are the most convenient. Provided the Government continues to own and dictate the terms of building the second terminal there will be a soft touch. Private industry and the private sector is not anti-trade unions but it is not a soft touch either. It is obvious that as the second terminal is being built the electoral timetable will get tighter and as the demands being made get stronger, the concessions made will multiply.

Anybody who would give the Dublin Airport Authority-Aer Rianta this contract could not have been in Dublin Airport during the past 20 years. It is a total and utter shambles. Recently it was voted by Irish businessmen as the worst airport in Europe. I will place a wager with the Minister, and any other Member, that the same organisation will also be the chosen operator of the terminal when the time comes.

This tender process which will be chosen by an "independent" body will arrive at the conclusion that all things taken into account the same State organisation, which has run this slum out in Collinstown in Dublin Airport, should do the same with the second terminal. I do not understand this on any grounds except those of party politics. The most powerful forces, the Taoiseach and the trade unions, have won this battle. The consumer can go to hell for the next six or seven years. The Minister and those who made this decision must know of the anti-consumer nature of Dublin Airport, the cavalier way in which passengers are treated and the monopolies that exist there. Does the Minister park his car out there? I am sorry, that is an unfair question for which I apologise. Does anybody in this House park their car out there? It costs €30 for nine hours parking at Dublin Airport. This is what the Dublin Airport Authority imposes. Does anybody ever change money out there? The foreign exchange charges are outrageous.