Shane Ross (Independent)

Sorry, I can blame Dublin Airport and I will tell the Minister why. Dublin Airport charges International Currency Exchange, ICE, €1 million a year. This was the charge insisted upon by Aer Rianta because it had a quasi-monopoly for so long. That is why I blame Dublin Airport.

I accept there is also a small Bank of Ireland branch at the airport but ICE is in a monopoly situation and can charge the customer what it likes. I blame Aer Rianta specifically because its charges are prohibitively high because it is a monopoly. This is one of the reasons competition between terminals might or might not be a good idea. Dublin Airport can also be blamed for the car park charges. The airport is a shambles and a slum. The toilets are disgusting. Everything is wrong because the attitude and the culture is appallingly negligent of the customer.

The other reason this is such an appalling decision is an historic reason which is continuing to this day and which will continue after this happens. Aer Rianta has been a disgrace in terms of political nominees to the board. It has been ruthlessly exploited almost exclusively by Fianna Fáil as a safe reward for party political loyalists who have then decided to run it as a personal fiefdom. I will not go into all the details.

Every Member of the House will be aware of what has been happening in Aer Rianta and the extraordinarily luxurious style in which some of the board members have been capable of enjoying themselves. That system of political nominees goes on to this day and will continue under the present regime. Those who are appointed under whichever party will still be loyal, first and foremost, to the party. This has been one of the diseases of the organisation. There is no reason to believe this will end; they will not be appointed unless they are loyal to the party. If they are thought to be suspect or commercially minded, they will not be appointed or their appointments will not be renewed. The plan for the airport which the House is discussing is utterly flawed.

I wish to speak on the Aer Lingus decision which is part of this deal hatched up to hold the north Dublin seats. On the surface, the decision on Aer Lingus might provide us with some sort of comfort that the State is going to sacrifice and give up its control. The trade unions, playing brilliant ball with Bertie, have made a little bit of noise and said they do not like this very much. The House need not worry because they will not do anything about it; they will not upset the apple cart on this one. They are making all the right noises by protesting a bit as though they did not get their own way which they did.