Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister and appreciate him coming to the House for this Adjournment matter. It is an urgent matter and I am sure he is well aware of the situation in Galway Airport.

Táim ag ardú na ceiste i gcomhthéacs todhchaí aerfort na Gaillimhe, ceist a d'ardaigh mé cheana leis an Aire anseo sa Seanad agus ag cruinnithe eile mar is cosúl go bhfuil an t-aerfort i mbaol. Baineann an cheist seo freisin le cearta na n-oibrithe agus an infheistíocht Stáit atá déanta.

I am raising the issue in the context of the ongoing situation in Galway Airport. The Bank of Ireland has taken over €1 million out of its account. I appreciate the Minister does not have direct responsibility for that and that the airport is an independent company. The story of Galway Airport goes back quite a while. We have had discussions here on transport issues and I raised the future of Galway Airport with the Minister in the context of the OPEX grant having to be curtailed. The subsequent exit of the managing director was not a good omen. There was a board meeting today and we are not sure exactly what happened, but the airport is in jeopardy. I am eagerly awaiting clarification.

In regard to the funding given by the Government to the airport, certain moneys were made available for redundancy payments to staff. Can the Minister clarify whether that is true? If it is, is that part of the money that the Bank of Ireland has taken from the account and where does that leave the workers who, it would appear, are in danger of losing their jobs? They are currently engaged in a sit-in in the airport to make sure their rights are upheld. It is an important issue.

I ask the Minister to indicate his thoughts on the future of the airport. Those in Galway see it as an essential part of its infrastructure if we are to try and keep industry going and attract industry and tourists into the area. Therefore, whatever the future of the airport is, whether it goes into liquidation or is sold on, we need to know what the Government's plan is for the site in Carnmore. Can the Minister indicate where the Government stands? Has there been any engagement between the Government, the Department or officials and the airport management and workers to try to determine what can be salvaged from this very difficult situation?