Second terminal gets green light

THE GOVERNMENT has finally given the go-ahead for a second terminal at Dublin airport and plans to allow independent companies bid to build a third terminal within the next 10 years.

However, in an unexpected twist to the ongoing saga, Transport Minster Martin Cullen confirmed last night that nothing would prevent the Dublin Airport Authority from bidding to build and run a third terminal.

A guaranteed independent terminal three had been mooted as a key concession demanded by the Progressive Democrats.

While legislation will be passed to pave the way for others, apart from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), to build terminals at Dublin Airport, the authority cannot be prevented from seeking to build and run a third terminal.

The announcement of plans to build a second terminal, which the DAA will build by 2009, were no surprise. The authority will also be allowed to tender to run the facility, although a three-part process has been put in place to ensure value for money.

That process, insisted on by the PDs, will see wide consultation on the design of the terminal, independently-verified costings and regulated landing charges set by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Although senior PD sources vigorously denied the future of the Government’s aviation policy now had an overwhelmingly Fianna Fáil flavour, the Opposition immediately declared Fianna Fáil the victors of the Coalition’s ideological head-to-head.

Crucially, Mr Cullen was also careful last night not to alienate unions and promised that, in accordance with ICTU agreements, any company tendering to operate a second terminal would have to maintain current employment standards.

Fine Gael transport spokesperson Olivia Mitchell said the Government had put transport policy on hold for months, only to maintain the DAA’s monopoly. “Fianna Fáil has won the battle to keep the second terminal at Dublin Airport in State hands and the PDs got the fig-leaf promise of an independent third terminal.

“After all the reports, all the debate, all the advisors, and all the delay, the Government has decided to let a monopoly control the airport terminals, on a site that is too small, in a location that is inherently inefficient,” she said.

Labour’s Roisín Shortall said: “We have an existing terminal that cannot deal with the expanding capacity; the Government parties could not agree about a second terminal; so the compromise is to have three terminals.”

Sinn Féin welcomed the decision to allow the DAA build a second terminal while Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the terminal three compromise “reeked of a Government all at sea when it comes to aviation policy”.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary and Ulick McEvaddy, who has submitted his own plan to build a second terminal, criticised last night’s decision. Mr McEvaddy pledged to reinstate an EU anti-competition complaint against the Government if access to the airport is not opened up by Monday.

SIPTU said it would be seeking a meeting with the Government “to seek reassurances” about terms of employment for terminal two.