Government denies Aer Rianta legislation claims

THE Government last night trenchantly denied that the legislation allowing the break-up of Aer Rianta was put together by an outside legal firm.

The controversial State Airports Bill passed all stages in the Oireachtas yesterday, but not before the leader of the Seanad, Senator Mary O'Rourke, claimed it was flawed and alleged it was drafted by leading solicitors firm, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, rather than parliamentary draftsmen.

Continuing her attacks on the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan's proposals, Ms O'Rourke supported the claim by Fine Gael that there was an error in the drafting of the bill.

"I spoke yesterday about the legislation being deficient and faulty and it is that," she said.

The former minister, who was previously been responsible for airports, went on to claim that the bill was drafted by a private firm of solicitors.

"Any minister is entitled to bring a bill to an outside firm, I never did it, but they are entitled to do it, but it is rarely done," she said.

Insisting again that there was no error, Mr Brennan guided the bill through all stages and held out a fig leaf to his former Cabinet colleague.

"I don't have any personal issue with anybody, particularly colleagues in my own party, and I have nothing but admiration and support for the leader of our party here in the house," he said.

However, Labour senator Derek McDowell highlighted the opposition to the bill from within Fianna Fáil in recent days, led by Ms O'Rourke.

"Could I also thank the leader of the House for the sterling leadership which she has given to the opposition over the last couple of days. There were times, I must say, when we felt entirely redundant, when the Government seemed to be more than capable of providing its own opposition."

Last night, a Government spokesperson insisted the bill was put together by the parliamentary draftsman's office and the Attorney General. Matheson Ormsby Prentice were only involved in advising the Department of Transport on the bill, the spokesperson said.