Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I would like the Leader to respond on the status of the proposed transfer from the Dublin Airport Authority to Fáilte Ireland of the Great Southern Hotel group, which is believed to be nominally worth €100 million. Senior DAA executives have been in communication in the recent past with the Departments of Transport, Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Taoiseach.

Last March the chairman of the Dublin Airport Authority stated to the Joint Committee on Transport, of which the Leas-Chathaoirleach is a member, that the hotel group may cease trading in early 2006. The group is obviously anxious to concentrate on its core aviation business.