Cullen refuses to comment on debt-free status of Cork Airport

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen refused to be drawn yesterday on the controversial Cork Airport debt issue, just days before its new terminal is due to open.

Declining to comment until he receives a report from consultants examining the situation, he said his job was “to make sure Cork, Shannon and Dublin Airports are viable”.

The terminal, at the centre of a debt row, is due to open within the next two weeks — two months behind schedule.

Speaking at the opening of the Mitchelstown bypass, Mr Cullen said 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 (SWRA) airport consultative committee.

SWRA chairman Cllr Mick O’Connell accused him of ignoring them on 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 within two weeks.

The committee was told the €160 million terminal, built under the supervision of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), will be handed over to the Cork Airport Authority (CAA), within days.

The CAA hopes to open it to inbound passengers in or around July 12 and open it on a phased basis over subsequent weeks.

Outbound passengers will continue to depart from the old terminal during that time.

However, Mr O’Connell said it was an absolute disgrace that the debt issue was still not resolved.

Some people fear the airport will have to carry a potentially crippling debt of up to €80 million — 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 Cullen refused yesterday to say his predecessor was wrong to give that commitment.

Mr O’Connell has written to Mr Cullen seeking a meeting in Cork next Monday when the minister unveils new trains.

Airport consultative committee member Cllr Jerry Buttimer welcomed news that the terminal will be open in a matter of weeks.

However, he called for a clear statement from the Government on the debt issue. “It is time for the procrastination to end. Minister Cullen has to make a decision and he should do so now and honour the commitment made by his predecessor.”

Meanwhile, airport chief executive Pat Keohane confirmed yesterday that Centralwings, Poland’s low-fares airline, will launch two new routes from Cork to Poland on October 31.

“As we prepare to move in to the new state-of-the-art terminal, the announcement of a new airline and new routes for Cork confirms our status as one of the fastest growing airports in Europe,” he said.