Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Transport his preferred options for the future development of air transport with particular reference to Dublin Airport; the extent to which he sees airlines (details supplied) and or other carriers operating through the airport; if he perceives a dominant role for any one carrier; the role he sees for the Dublin Airport Authority and the extent to which the DAA will accommodate these airlines and or other carriers at the airport; the extent to which he envisages air transport policy to be determined by his Department, the DAA, various carriers or otherwise; his plans for the future development of air passenger transport between here and other European capitals and worldwide; the extent to which it is intended to provide aircraft servicing and maintenance at Dublin Airport in the future; if he regards such service as essential in similar geographic situations to those prevailing at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12925/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The whole trust of our aviation policy is based on promoting maximum competitiveness and connectivity. We do this by promoting regular, safe cost effective and competitive air services linking the country with key business and tourism markets. I do not perceive that a dominant role for any one carrier would be consistent with this policy as it would militate against competitiveness.

Development of air services through our airports will be primarily influenced by airlines' perception of market potential and the attractiveness and the competitiveness of the services on offer at our airports. Commercial decisions on specific air services to and from our airports are essentially a matter for airlines. A key objective of airports policy is to ensure that the three State Airports have sufficient capacity to provide vital international access and to respond to a competitive airline sector. Dublin Airport is our major airport and offers a wide range of shorthaul and longhaul services to locations that are important to our trade and tourism development. As an economically regulated Airport, DAA's role is to manage Dublin Airport efficiently and cost effectively and to undertake necessary investment for the future. DAA's current €1.2 billion investment programme will strengthen the capacity of the Airport to serve the needs of existing and future airline users.

While decisions about aircraft servicing at Dublin Airport are mainly a matter for the airlines and enterprises involved, I can assure the Deputy that State Agencies and relevant Government Departments recognise and support the job creation potential of such activities. I would refer the Deputy to the DAA Statement of the 24th February to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport which sets out in detail its position on the use of hangars at Dublin Airport.