TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen is refusing to say when he believes the row over the €160 million debt for Cork Airport's new terminal will be resolved.

THE company brokering talks on the €160 million debt impasse between Cork and Dublin airports has been asked to withdraw from negotiations because of a conflict of interest.

STAFF at Shannon Airport last night voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a bid to head off more than 200 planned job losses.

The trial of five antiwar protestors charged with damaging a US aircraft at Shannon Airport has collapsed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following legal arguments in the absence of the jury.

One of the five protestors charged with damaging a US aircraft at Shannon Airport has told the jury that "acting on the philosophies of Isaiah rather than pissing off George Bush" was the motivation behind their actions.

One of five anti-war protestors charged with damaging a United States of America aircraft at Shannon Airport in February 2003 described their actions as "disarmament in a non-violent and legal way", a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Five antiwar protesters charged with damaging a United States of America aircraft at Shannon Airport in February 2003 were carrying a large pickaxe and several hammers with antiwar slogans inscribed on them, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.

Five anti-war protesters charged with damaging a United States aircraft in a hanger at Shannon Airport in February 2003 "did what they did" with every intention of causing damage to property, a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury has heard.

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of five anti-war protestors accused of damaging a US naval plane at ShannonAairport in February 2003.

SHANNON Airport will get its first major boost since the break up of Aer Rianta today with Ryanair expected to announced up to a dozen new routes.

Former Transport Minister Seamus Brennan received another blow tonight when he was severely criticised by the outgoing chairman of Aer Rianta.

BEFORE we sell off Aer Lingus to the highest bidder (or even the first bidder) does anyone mind if I ask a few questions? And let me declare a few interests first.

DUBLINERS have already nicknamed their new transport system the Daniel Day Luas.

Tánaiste Mary Harney has admitted splits in coalition policy and warned of the need for reforms of aviation and healthcare services if the Government is to recover from its devastating election defeat.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has confirmed Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports will remain as state-run airports if Aer Rianta is broken up.

AVIATION regulator Bill Prasifka has hit back at the Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, saying his claims were intemperate, ill-informed and unconstructive.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that he agrees with General President of SIPTU, Jack O'Connor's sentiments that Government and the social partners must work together to maintain Ireland's economic progress.

Self-interest could have motivated Mary Harney’s intervention in the row over the break-up of CIÉ and Aer Rianta, says Political Reporter Michael O’Farrell.

THE rift between the Government and SIPTU over Tánaiste Mary Harney’s controversial weekend remarks on transport reform moved no closer to being resolved yesterday.

Tánaiste Mary Harney was at the centre of a political storm last night when the country’s largest trade union boycotted pay talks with Government because of forthright comments she made about public transport reforms at the weekend.

A GOVERNMENT think-tank yesterday cast doubts on the proposed break-up of Aer Rianta and warned the plan could leave Shannon and Cork airports in financial trouble.

THE PROSPECT of widespread public transport chaos remained last night as SIPTU representatives at CIÉ failed to reach an agreement to call off tomorrow’s planned 24-hour stoppage.

COMMUTERS face transport chaos next Thursday after SIPTU yesterday confirmed strikes at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports in addition to a 24-hour stoppage hitting bus and rail services.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has unveiled the group that will take over the running of Dublin Airport from Aer Rianta.

SIPTU has given Transport Minister Seamus Brennan until March 18 to declare his financial plans for Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports following the proposed break up of Aer Rianta.

SIPTU officials are due to meet later today to discuss Transport Minister Seamus Brennan’s latest effort to prevent strike action at Aer Rianta.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is reportedly planning to provide detailed assurances to SIPTU today in an effort to avert planned strike action by the union’s members in Aer Rianta.

SIPTU has decided not to withdraw its threat of industrial action in protest at the Government’s plans to dismantle Aer Rianta and establish Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports as independent, competing entities.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is to meet a group of unions representing airport workers in the hope of staving off the threat of industrial action at Aer Rianta.

THE CIE group of unions are expected to give the go-ahead for industrial action today which will cripple rail and bus services within a fortnight.

More than one million passengers will travel through Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports between Saturday December 20 and Tuesday January 6, according to Aer Rianta.

AER RIANTA has chosen deputy chief executive Margaret Sweeney to succeed current chief John Burke who is stepping down at the end of this month.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has told the Dáil that gardaí are investigating how Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte got possession of a memo relating to the Government’s controversial plan to break Aer Rianta into three competing entities.

SIPTU has criticised the reaction of Transport Minister Seamus Brennan's response to British bus company First Groups plc decision to take over Aircoach last week.

I REFER to Gerard O’Rourke’s letter entitled ‘Aer Rianta is flying – why break it up?’ (Irish Examiner, Nov 3).

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has reiterated the Government’s belief that the proposed break-up of Aer Rianta would lead to an improved economic future for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

RYANAIR’S Michael O’Leary said he will challenge in the courts any attempt to compensate passengers for missed or delayed flights.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan continued to ignore union pleas for an independent review of his plans to break up Aer Rianta yesterday and named the new board to run Shannon Airport.

Airport workers in Dublin and Cork are considering fielding candidates in next year’s local elections as part of their campaign against the Government’s planned break-up of Aer Rianta.

A TOP aviation expert yesterday predicted a bright future for Shannon Airport following the break-up of Aer Rianta.

CIÉ has received €2 billion in funding from the taxpayer in the past six years, the Taoiseach said yesterday.

The Taoiseach is meeting with ICTU officials at Government Buildings, in what are thought to be talks about the Aer Rianta stand-off.

Ryanair may benefit from the break up of Aer Rianta, with the Cork and Shannon airports competing to offer the airline the best deals, according to industry analysts.

The airports are threatened with disruption this afternoon at the height of what has already been a difficult tourist season.