FF deputies keep silent on airport debt

THERE is growing concern about the future of Cork Airport.

Fri, 30 Jun, 2006 - 01:00

If it is not debt-free, it will not be as attractive as other airports either for airlines or their passengers.

It is the people of Cork who will suffer as a result of the airport having a debt of €180 million.

But most remarkable of all is the deafening silence of Government TDs in Cork. One of them, Noel O’Flynn, has expressed concern over the fact that the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, and his predecessor, Seamus Brennan, have different ideas over whether or not the airport should remain debt-free.

As a member of the main Government party and a public representative, Deputy O’Flynn’s sole concern should be to ensure Cork Airport is debt-free.

He should be calling on Mr Cullen to fulfil the promise made by his predecessor instead of worrying about them singing from different press releases.

And our minister in Cork, Micheál Martin, has remained extremely subdued on the issue.

He should be fighting for an airport that will benefit Cork and the whole southern region. When he was Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan said Dublin airport had stronger earnings and a larger asset base and that was why the debt from Cork airport would be passed on to Dublin.

With the number of passengers using Dublin growing all the time, does this not make even more sense now?

The new terminal at Cork was originally estimated at €60m. As with so many projects undertaken by this Government, the cost has spiralled out of control and now stands at €180m.

The Government realises it will be much harder to lay a debt of €180m at the door of Dublin airport rather than the original €60m.

However, this is a problem the people of Cork should not have to pay for.

If the Government has failed to keep control of spending on this project, then Cork should not have to suffer as a result. Micheál Martin should be telling this to his cabinet colleagues. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, this issue should be top of his list instead of flying to Japan for his second visit there in less than two years.

Caitriona Fitzpatrick

Marble Hall Park

Douglas Road

Cork