John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I refer to the danger of a major slump in the Cork area as a result of today's announcement regarding Cork Airport. I endorse Senator McCarthy's comments in this regard. It is unacceptable in the context of the commitment made by the former Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, that Cork Airport would be debt-free. That commitment was clearly made. In response to an Adjournment debate 12 months ago, the current Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, told me that Cork Airport would have to carry some of the debt and that it was subject to rules and regulations vis-À-vis the Companies Act and so on.

The House must be told how the figure of €100 million was achieved. Where did it come from and what formulae were used to devise it? The undue influence of the Dublin Airport Authority in deciding the future of Cork Airport is unacceptable. In recent weeks, it has run advertisements in the national newspapers offering for sale ten acres of the landbank around Cork Airport, valued at up to €30 million. Not only is Cork Airport being saddled with major debt, the authority is also stripping it of any assets it might have for future development. If this development is part of the policy of encouraging competition between the airports, it is unacceptable.

I ask the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on this matter. I expect she will suggest it should be raised on the Adjournment. I will propose it as a matter for debate on the Adjournment tomorrow but I would prefer, given the seriousness of the issue, that there be a full debate. I urge the Leader to do all she can to bring that about this week.