Cullen urged to honour debt-free pledge made to airport by predecessor
Mr Cullen faces a grilling from politicians and business leaders who learned in April that Cork Airport Authority is facing a potentially crippling E160 million debt.
This is despite a pledge in 2003 from Mr Cullen's predecessor Séamus Brennan that Cork and Shannon airports would start operations debt-free after the break-up of Aer Rianta. "When I establish the independent Shannon and Cork authorities on a statutory basis they will both commence business free of debt," Mr Brennan said in July 2003.
Announcing his intention to break up Aer Rianta and establish separate boards to run each airport, Mr Brennan said: "The existing debts ... will remain with Dublin Airport." However, last April Cork Airport Authority chairman Joe Gantly told an Oireachtas Transport Committee that Cork was factoring the 160 million cost of its new terminal into its business plan.
The Cork Airport Authority business plan, together with those of Shannon and Dublin, must be approved by government before full separation.
Dublin Airport Authority chairman Gary McGann told the Oireachtas committee that while it was the effective "paymaster" for the three airports, and would have to have regard to the viability of Cork's business plan, "there isn't a bottomless pit in Dublin". Cork's new terminal is due to be open by March.
Representatives of Cork Chamber of Commerce and the South West Regional Authority will meet with Mr Cullen today to outline their concerns over the apparent back-peddling on Mr Brennan's pledge.
The airport debt issue will also top the agenda of a meeting of Cork City Council next Monday.
"There should have been a clear statement from Minister Cullen stating his position his silence is worrying," said Fine Gael councillor Deirdre Clune last night.
"Minister Brennan made a commitment to Cork. Mr Cullen must honour that."
