Harney: airport row won’t scupper Coalition

THE Progressive Democrats will not pull the plug on the coalition Government over the split on the second terminal at Dublin Airport, Tánaiste Mary Harney insisted yesterday.

But the Health Minister and Progressive Democrat leader said other issues, such as health, which would find more "common cause" with the public could force a general election.

"I don't think anyone would chose the issue of a terminal at Dublin Airport as an election issue I think there are bigger issues than that," Ms Harney said yesterday in Cork.

The cabinet will attempt again today to secure agreement on the controversial second terminal at Dublin Airport. The issue has split the Coalition partners for the past three years.

The Progressive Democrats are pushing for an independent competitor to run a second or third terminal at Dublin Airport, while Transport Minister Martin Cullen wants the second terminal to remain in State ownership and be built by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

But the Progressive Democrats believe that competition is crucial for the delivery of a better service to the customers and the party's Transport spokesman, Senator Tommy Morrissey, yesterday called on the Fianna Fáil Cabinet members to once again consider the 13 private sector expressions of interest in building and running the second terminal.

Although Mr Morrissey would not rule out the possibility of the Progressive Democrats pulling out of Government on such a crucial issue, Ms Harney said yesterday that while the party will be demanding competition at Dublin Airport, she insisted it was not a resigning issue.

"I have never operated on the basis of threatening it is the wrong way to do business in a Coalition," Ms Harney said following the official opening of the Accident and Emergency unit at Cork University Hospital.

A possible compromise solution to the impasse has been a proposal to allow the Dublin Airport Authority to build and run the second terminal, but also allow a third terminal to be built and operated privately within a shorter time frame than currently envisaged.

Asked if the Progressive Democrats would be happy with the third terminal compromise, Ms Harney said: "The number of terminals is not really an issue, it is not an issue whether it is two, three or four the issue is competition."

The Tánaiste said she would back a third terminal proposal if it makes sense. "I will only be happy when we have an element of competition running a terminal at Dublin Airport if you have no one to compete with, there is no reason why you should become efficient," Ms Harney added.

Asked if she thought a solution would be found at today's Cabinet meeting, Ms Harney said it could be found at an hour-long meeting or the solution may not be found for weeks.