Ryanair: Govt is a 'fudge factory'

Ryanair has criticised the Government's inaction over the development of a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

It has been two years since it received 13 separate expressions of interest to develop a second terminal at the airport.

Speaking today at the First Annual Forum of the Tourism Industry, Ryanair endorsed the recent criticism of the present Government as a "fudge factory".

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive said: "It’s a joke at our industry’s expense that this Government would host a conference on Irish tourism called 'An Agenda for Action'.

"An Agenda for Inaction would be more appropriate.

"It is 2½ years since this Government was re-elected with a plan to develop cost efficient terminal facilities at Dublin Airport … but nothing has happened.

"It is two years since this Government received 13 separate proposals to build a competing second terminal at no cost to the tax payer … and nothing’s happened.

"It is one year since the Tourism Policy Review Group highlighted the urgent need for a competing second terminal at Dublin Airport … and still nothing’s happened.

"The Irish tourism industry is in crisis because of this Government’s inaction”.

“Irish tourism is struggling simply because this Government prefers fudge and dither over decision. It prefers “consultants” and “facilitators” instead of action.

"It is always just one consultant's report short of a decision.

"For over five years now Ryanair has offered to invest almost $1bn in new aircraft, based here in Ireland, deliver up to 20 new low fare European routes bringing over 5 million new visitors a year and creating 5,000 direct new Irish jobs and over 25,000 indirect jobs in Irish tourism.

"All of this at no cost to the Irish tax payer, and yet this Government continues to dither and fudge.

"Two-and-a-half years should be long enough for even Bertie Ahern to make a decision.

"We need less Agendas for Action and more action. Instead of talking about decisions, why doesn’t the Government just make one.

"Irish tourism needs a competing second terminal at Dublin, we want 5 million new visitors and we demand 5,000 new jobs.

"All it takes is one decision."