Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - Airport Terminals.

Ivan Yates

Question:

112 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her Department's policy position and that of the Government in relation to competition concerning terminal operators within an airport and between airports; if her Department has assessed the European obligations in this regard; if so, if her Department is, in principle, opposed to the concept of separate terminal operators in an airport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10000/98]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

As regards competition between airports, the position is that no licence or other approval is required from my Department for the provision or development of an airport in Ireland. The principal statutory requirements, in addition to planning permission, relate to air safety and air navigation and are regulated by the Irish Aviation Authority.

As regards separate terminal operations within an airport, the Deputy may be aware that my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Alan Dukes, while not ruling out that concept, decided in May 1997 that the proposal of Huntstown Airpark Limited relating to a private terminal development at Dublin Airport was not in the interests of the future development of that airport. He was of the view that, from both an airport planning and economic point of view, the existing terminal complex should be developed to its maximum capacity before a second remote location terminal is developed.

The determination of An Bord Pleanála's hearing of an appeal by the promoters of Huntstown Airpark is suspended at present pending the outcome of a judicial review of the appeal process. A date for hearing the action in the High Court is awaited.

I have not received any other proposals for the independent management of terminal facilities within any of the three State airports.

There are no specific measures in European law at present dealing with these airport related issues. I have no reason to believe, however, that the policy position as I have set it out above is contrary to European law.