Airport board defends decision not to appear before Dáil committee

THE board of Cork Airport last night defended its decision not to appear before a Dáil committee yesterday.

The Cork Airport Authority (CAA) had been invited to appear before the joint Oireachtas Transport Committee.

It was expected the CAA would outline its plans for the future of the airport, and discuss the controversial debt issue hanging over it.

But the CAA decided to pull out of the meeting following the appointment by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey of industrial relations troubleshooter Peter Cassells to facilitate talks between the CAA and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to resolve the debt impasse.

CAA chairman Joe Gantly told the committee he felt his appearance before the committee would be “unhelpful” to that process.

“The chairman of CAA will be happy to attend future Oireachtas Committee meetings once this process has been completed,” he said.

Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer said he was disappointed with the decision.

“It is important that the case for a debt free and independent Cork airport is made at every opportunity,” he said.

“I hope it is not a case of the board being told not to attend by outside influences.” He called on the airport board “not to capitulate” in the campaign for a debt free airport.

“A clear political promise was made that Cork would be independent and debt free,” he said.

“The CAA should not yield an inch to the DAA in the campaign for a debt free status.”

He said Mr Gantly, and other board members, have a duty to represent the workers, the people of Cork and the region.

But a spokesperson for the CAA said: “The board in conjunction with the chairman decided not to appear before the committee because the mediation process, facilitated by Peter Cassells, is underway.”

It is understood that the CAA agreed on Monday to set up a sub-committee to deal directly with Mr Cassells on the issue.

Both the CAA and DAA are in dispute over who carries the estimated €220 million cost associated with the development of a new terminal building at Cork.