Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place.

All three Airport Authorities will have to finalise business plans for autonomous operations. Recognising that the three airports will require coordinated strategies for the achievement of operational and financial readiness, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) will oversee the consistency of the assumptions and strategies of each business plan.

The actual timing of airport restructuring will be contingent on the creation of the appropriate conditions that will ensure the financial sustainability of all three State Airports. My Department will continue to liaise with all three authorities on the business planning timetable.