Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Transport if he has been briefed by the Dublin Airport Authority on their €20 million programme of cutbacks which may see the loss of up to 400 DAA jobs at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports; if he will report on the steps he is taking with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to protect aviation jobs and the aviation industry here in general in view of the recent loss of jobs in the aviation sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21264/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Issues relating to business matters generally and employment levels in particular at the three state airports are day-to-day commercial matters for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in which I have no statutory function.

The reality is that the world wide economic downturn has had a seriously negative impact on the aviation industry generally and this in turn has severely affected the financial position of the DAA. The recently published DAA annual report for 2008 shows that passenger number arrivals at the three State airports are down 0.6% which is the first fall in passenger numbers for 17 years. I understand that there have been further declines in the first quarter of this year.

I know that following the announcement of its annual results for 2008, which saw a drop in Group profit of 28% from 2007, the DAA has been reviewing all aspects of its business, with a particular focus on costs, including capital development and operational expenditure.

I also understand that discussions have commenced between the DAA and the airport unions on a major cost recovery programme. The programme is to be company wide applying to Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports.

In the context of our national aviation policy, my priorities are to maintain the highest possible levels of connectivity between Ireland and key markets around the world to support economic and tourism activity and to ensure that the development of our airports facilitates this. My Department will continue to closely monitor developments in the aviation sector that affect the attainment of these objectives.

I am very sensitive to the employment implications of the downturn on the aviation industry and I have kept in close contact with my colleague, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who, the Deputy will appreciate, has cabinet responsibility for employment matters generally.

In the context of my responsibilities as Minister for Transport, I hope shortly to introduce to the House, the Aviation (Preclearance) Bill 2009, which will facilitate the introduction of Preclearance at Shannon Airport, later this year and at Dublin Airport next year when Terminal 2 opens. Preclearance will boost development at the airport and open a range of potential opportunities for services between Ireland and the United States.