Aer Rianta break up 'rushed and premature'

The leader of the Seanad today described the legislation to break up Aer Rianta as rushed and premature.

Senator Mary O’Rourke criticised Transport Minister Seamus Brennan’s attempt to put the State Airport Bill through the Dáil and the Seanad before the summer recess.

“I can see no reason for the haste. The force of the legislation does not come into play until next April and I believe it would be better to leave it until the autumn,” she said.

The former Minister for Public Enterprise, who lost her Dáil seat in Westmeath at the last election, said the State Airport Bill was not good legislation.

“But I will be supporting it because it’s Government legislation,” she told RTÉ radio.

Ms O’Rourke delayed the adjournment of the Seanad for a week to give more time to debating the Bill.

She said rushing at bill through the Dáil and Seanad at 10pm was not good practice by any country’s standards.

“The two chambers should not be seen as a stamping ground for legislation.”

When the State Airport Bill is passed by the Seanad, Aer Rianta will be split up into three separate companies.

However, only Dublin Airport, which will be controlled by the new Dublin Airport Authority, will have full independence.

Due to union pressure, the new boards of Cork and Shannon airports will not be granted independent unless they present business plans to Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy before April 30 next year.