As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) operates under a clear commercial mandate. As such, the amount of DAA's debt is a matter for the DAA. The Company's Annual Report and Financial Statement which includes, amongst other things, its debt profile is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas each year and is available in the Library of the Houses. The annual accounts are also available on www.daa.ie.
The transfer of the business of Shannon airport on 31 December 2012 from the DAA Group to the SAA was brought into effect by a dividend in specie amounting to €105.5 million equating to the book value of the net assets transferred. DAA Group debt was not affected by this dividend. This mechanism for effecting the separation of Shannon airport was decided by the then Fianna Fáil-led Government in 2003 and it underpins the State Airports Act 2004 which was also sponsored by that Government.