Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Regional Airports.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

234 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will use her powers under section 10 of the Aviation Regulation Act, 2001, to give a general policy direction on the contribution of airports to the regions in which they are located; and if she will ensure that Cork Airport does not suffer as a result of recent decisions to raise airport landing charges. [21012/01]

Nora Owen

Ceist:

235 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will make a statement on the Aviation Regulator's Report and its implications for Aer Rianta; and the position regarding proposals to build a new runway at Dublin Airport. [21170/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

I propose to answer Questions

Nos. 234 and 235 together.

The Aviation Regulator was established on a statutory basis earlier this year, pursuant to the Aviation Regulation Act, 2001, for the purpose of determining, inter alia, an appropriate maximum level for airport charges. In exercising his functions, the regulator acts on a completely independent basis as provided for in the Act. There was an extensive debate on the proposed role of the Aviation Regulator when I was piloting the draft legislation through both Houses of the Oireachtas last year. All sides contributed strongly and constructively to that debate and I accepted several useful amendments which were proposed both by Government and Opposition parties. I believe that the Act is all the better for those amendments.

As regards the contribution of the airports to their regions, I issued, prior to his final determi nation, a direction under section 10 of the Act to the Aviation Regulator, so that he would be aware of the purpose and intent of Government regional development policy. In that context I referred particularly to the objectives of the national development plan and the national spatial strategy and directed that the regulator make every reasonable effort to ensure that the final determination reflects the important emphasis that the Government places on balanced regional development.

I am aware that the final determination of the regulator, which was published on 27 August, would allow Aer Rianta to levy higher maximum charges at Shannon and Cork Airports compared to Dublin. However, there is nothing in the regulator's determination which obliges Aer Rianta to levy the permitted maxima and Aer Rianta has already stated publicly that it intends that Cork and Shannon Airports remain as competitive as Dublin Airport. As the Deputies will be aware, Aer Rianta does not accept the recent determination of the Aviation Regulator and the company has informed me that the board has decided to appeal the decision of the regulator and to pursue the matter through the courts.

Aer Rianta's proposals on the development of the three State airports are in the first instance a matter for Aer Rianta, which has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop the airports and to provide such facilities and services as it considers necessary for aircraft and passengers. My Department has already asked Aer Rianta for a considered view on the implications of the regulator's determination for the future development of the company. As regards the proposed new runway at Dublin Airport, the position remains that Aer Rianta has commissioned an environmental impact assessment in connection with the proposed new runway. The global downturn in the aviation industry will have implications for the level of passenger traffic through Dublin Airport, at least in the short-term, and this in turn may impact on Aer Rianta's previous timescale for the second runway at Dublin Airport. Obviously, the company will need to re-examine this matter.