Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I hope the Minister will clarify the position this evening. Senator Minihan pointed out that Cork Airport was voted the best airport in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and now has 2.7 million passengers per year. It is a very important part of the infrastructure of Munster. Likewise, Shannon Airport is a very important part of the infrastructure of the west and mid-west. People from my constituency prefer to travel from Shannon rather than travel all the way to Dublin to leave the country.

It is important to have the two airports at Cork and Shannon to cater for transatlantic flights. If the two airports are to be allowed to grow, the approach of the previous Minister, Deputy Brennan, is the one we should follow. My party's view is that neither airport should be carrying any debt. As Senator Minihan said, the boards of both airports are currently frustrated because they do not know whether they are coming or going. If any airport is able to carry the debt of the airport authorities, it is surely Dublin Airport which caters for nearly 20 million passengers per year. That number is predicted to grow to 30 million over the next ten years. Most people consider that, by and large, the Dublin Airport Authority has created the debt. I know that a large development is taking place at Cork Airport but the DAA is best placed to carry that debt.

If the Munster and western regions are to be allowed to grow we will need proper infrastructure, including airports, roads, sewerage and water facilities. Some 15 or 16 different carriers are flying into Cork Airport, which is unbelievable. It is great to see that such companies can provide a service from the south to various parts of Europe and the UK. Hopefully, in the not too distant future transatlantic flights will also operate to and from Cork. It is important, however, that Cork is not straddled from the start with a massive debt in the region of €160 million. If such airports are to compete they must be allowed to grow without any initial debt, otherwise they will lose some carriers which operate on the basis of low landing charges. If an airport is straddled with debt from the beginning, it will be at a complete disadvantage and will not be able to compete. We will then be left with one airport in Dublin and will be back to square one.

I hope the Minister will clarify the position because it seems there has been a shift in the Government's position on the debt attached to some of those airports. I was disappointed with what Mr. McGann said and I hope he is not advocating the Government's position, which was the view expressed by the previous Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, two years ago.