Ryanair falls foul of minister over airport plan

TRANSPORT Minister Séamus Brennan yesterday criticised a move by Ryanair to hamper plans to bring thousands of tourists into Ireland next summer.

Mr Brennan said he found it very difficult to understand a decision by Ryanair to lodge an objection with Bord Pleanala for a new temporary facility at Dublin airport which would allow low-fare airlines do a quicker turnaround.

He said the Government had moved especially quickly on the matter to ensure extra capacity would be available for the 2003 season.

“Originally, Ryanair were the ones driving the idea of more facilities at Dublin airport. I am very disappointed by their attitude,” the minister said.

The local authority, Fingal County Council, granted permission for the €5m facility earlier this month. Tourism Minister John

O’Donoghue had several times said the facility was crucial to increasing what he described as Ireland’s abysmal share of the European tourist market.

The council permission came despite objections from Ryanair and the nearby Portmarnock Residents’ Association.

The council planners said the temporary measure was the only means of providing facilities for the upcoming summer season and would contribute to the development of essential infrastructure at Dublin airport.

Aer Rianta intends to replace the temporary Pier D with a 70m permanent structure.

Ryanair wants to operate the proposed new private terminal at the airport, which would be a much larger facility than a pier, and is one of up to 13 consortiums expecting to bid for it. It is understood the airline’s managers fear the construction of even the temporary Pier D could interfere with that.

Aer Rianta has already placed newspaper advertisements in the press inviting tenders for the building of a temporary Pier D with a closing date of January 24.