Department stays silent over separation of airports

THE Department of Transport has refused to comment further on a hint by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey that the separation of the three state airports may be deferred.

Under the 2004 State Airports Act, Shannon, Cork and Dublin were to be granted their autonomy once the three airports put in place business plans that were deemed viable by the Government.

But the separation has yet to take place, and over the weekend, Mr Dempsey appeared to indicate it could be deferred because of the deteriorating economic climate.

“From the time that this decision was made, huge changes have taken place economically and in the aviation industry, and that obviously has to be reflected in the decision that is made,” said Mr Dempsey.

Asked for further clarification yesterday, the department refused to add to Mr Dempsey’s comments.

Instead, it merely reiterated the existing situation.

“We are awaiting final correspondence from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) with regard to the separation of Cork and Shannon airports. We expect to receive this from the DAA shortly. Government will then make a decision on the future separation of both airports,” said the department.

The DAA oversees Cork and Shannon.

Labour’s Cork South Central TD Ciaran Lynch warned the Government would be jeopardising the economy of the southern region if Cork was not granted its independence.

“Cork Airport is a vital piece of infrastructure for the city and county of Cork and for the entire southern region. It is completely unacceptable that such a vital asset be governed by an authority whose primary concern is in the management of Dublin Airport and whose primary interests are tied in with the regional economy of the greater Dublin area,” said Mr Lynch.

“Given the strategic importance of the development of the south, it is critical that Cork Airport is governed by a standalone independent board.”

Fine Gael’s Cork North Central TD Bernard Allen said that if the DAA was left in charge of Cork, then the DAA should also bear Cork’s debt, which arose from the building of the new terminal at the airport.

“Minister Dempsey can’t have it both ways. If he is to abandon plans for three independent airports, then the debt should be moved back to the DAA.”