Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I raise the issue of the debt in Cork Airport. I welcome that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, has appointed a noted industrial relations expert to attempt to find some compromise between Dublin Airport Authority and Cork Airport Authority on the €220 million debt Cork has been saddled with.

Reading media reports and listening to commentary this morning, one would think the Minister is a knight in shining armour. It must be acknowledged he is taking a more proactive role in the matter than his predecessor, who spent almost two years in the Department literally not answering any questions on it.

Approximately four years ago in this House, the then Minister, Deputy Brennan, gave a clear commitment that if he broke up Aer Rianta, Cork Airport would begin its autonomous life without debt. Now the Government is almost blaming the two airports for not coming to a resolution on the airport debt. This is scandalous.