‘Cowen bowing to state agency’

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has been accused of being dictated to by state agencies as the bid to bring 300 jobs to Dublin Airport appeared dead.

Ferocious Dáil exchanges saw Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny claim the Dublin Airport Authority was running the country and blocking a Ryanair bid to create hundreds of hi-tech positions as ministers stood on the sidelines.

Mr Kenny demanded the Taoiseach personally intervene with the airline’s boss by “calling the bluff” of Michael O’Leary and getting Aer Lingus to relinquish the huge Hangar 6 at the airport to Ryanair.