John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I know that he has a particular interest in Shannon Airport, but Cork Airport has suffered for many years whereas the State has invested in Shannon Airport and supported it with stopovers and so on. The reality is that if investment in Cork Airport had taken place before the break-up of the airports, Cork Airport would not have the problem that it now faces.

The Minister of State's answer is, I must say, most disappointing. It appears clear that the Minister for Transport has no intention of honouring the commitment that the Cork Airport Authority will be debt free and we are now in some type of bartering situation. Given that my Adjournment matter raises a number of questions that were not answered in the Minister of State's reply, I ask Deputy Killeen to bring those points to the attention of the Minister for Transport. I hope the Minister for Transport will be in a position to return to the House in the near future to address those points, either in the course of an overall debate on the Aer Lingus and Aer Rianta break-ups or in response to a similar Adjournment matter so that we can flush out the points that I have raised.

I thank the Minister of State for his time, but I must say on behalf of the people in Cork whom I represent, his response gives us little hope that what was originally intended and what everybody understood would happen will now take place.