Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 1

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Derek McDowell

Ceist:

46 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the proposal by Ryanair to build a new pier at Dublin Airport at a cost of £12 million with resulting reductions in airport landing charges to the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21796/99]

Dan Neville

Ceist:

48 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the Ryanair proposal for new route and passenger services to European destinations including investment in a new terminal at Dublin Airport; the procedure for consideration of this in the context of the appointment of an independent regulator and the ongoing appraisal and strategic review of the future of Aer Rianta; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20836/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 48 together.

Ryanair's proposal of recent months to open ten new routes to European destinations, five of which would be from Shannon, is coupled with a Ryanair request that it be allowed to invest £12 million in facilities at Dublin Airport and obtain in return a low cost charging arrangement of £1 per departing passenger for 20 years.

I would of course welcome a return by Ryanair to Shannon Airport, but I am not in favour of the provision of services out of Shannon being linked to the level of airport charges obtaining at Dublin Airport. I also believe that, as a general principle, any proposal for airline or other private funding of terminal facilities at Dublin Airport, even if it were structured on an equitable commercial basis between Aer Rianta and the airline concerned, could not be permitted exclusively for one airline. An opportunity to conclude such a deal with Aer Rianta, or alternatively to get from Aer Rianta airport charges arrangements of equivalent effect, would have to be offered to all airlines.

The appointment of an independent regulator is the best way of dealing with the economic regulation of Irish airports and, in particular, airport charges. To that end, I secured Government approval last July for the drafting of legislation to establish a regulator and that process is now well under way. I therefore believe that the next regulatory decision in relation to any revised airport charges regime should be taken by the Regulator as early as possible next year, rather than by me.

Those are my personal views on the Ryanair proposal and related matters. Cabinet colleagues, of course, may have their own views and it may be that completion and presentation to the Government of the Warburg Dillon Read consultancy report on the strategic future of Aer Rianta over the next few weeks or my own considered recommendations to Government in due course arising from that report, could afford opportunities for the Government to consider any of these issues.