Cullen under pressure to make decision on airport debt
Minister Martin Cullen said he would not comment until he received a report from consultants examining the situation.
The terminal, the costs of which are at the centre of the debt row, is due to open within the next two weeks — two months behind schedule.
“My job is to make sure Cork, Shannon and Dublin airports are viable,” Mr Cullen said at the opening of the Mitchelstown bypass.
“It would be foolish of me to speculate until I see the report.”
Pressure mounted on the minister yesterday following a meeting of the South West Regional Authority’s airport consultative committee.
SWRA chairman Cllr Mick O’Connell accused Mr Cullen of ignoring them and an issue of critical economic importance to the region.
“The minister was only down the road. We are disappointed he didn’t avail of the opportunity to meet us,” he said.
The committee met in Cork yesterday for an update on the terminal. But Mr Cullen said he would meet with any group after he gets the report which is expected on his desk within two weeks.
The committee was told the €160 million terminal, built under the supervision of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), would be handed over to the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) within days. The CAA hopes to open it on a phased basis to inbound passengers from around July 12.
But Mr O’Connell said it was a disgrace that the debt issue was still not resolved.
Some fear the airport will have to carry a potentially crippling debt of up to €80m — half the cost of the terminal — despite a 2003 pledge from then Transport Minister Seamus Brennan that the airport would start independent
operations debt free.
Mr O’Connell has written to Mr Cullen seeking a meeting when the minister is in Cork next Monday to unveil new trains.
Airport consultative committee member Cllr Jerry Buttimer welcomed news that the terminal will be open in a matter of weeks.
But he said: “The issue of the debt and the commitment given by former minister Brennan to Cork Airport remains unanswered. It is time for the procrastination to end.
“Clearly Minister Cullen has to make a decision and he should do so now and honour the commitment made by his predecessor Minister Brennan.”
