Airport the victim of policy u-turn

THE news that Cork Airport Authority (CAA) is to be saddled with a €100 million debt in exchange for freedom from control by the Dublin Airport Authority (Irish Examiner, February 20) flies in the face of the Government’s own plans for regional development.

In his statement establishing the three independent airport authorities — Shannon, Dublin and Cork — former Transport Minister Seamus Brennan clearly stated that the debt-free start would lead to the independent airports being able to “compete with each other and vigorously pursue new business free from central control”.

Are we to take it now that the Government does not want this?