DAA breakup recedes

The possibility of the Shannon Airport Authority and the Cork Airport Authority cutting the apron strings to the DAA would appear to be receding.

Transport and Marine Minister Noel Dempsey has confirmed by way of parliamentary question to Fine Gael’s Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Clare T.D. Pat Breen that “the current state of the aviation sector and the economy generally” will be taken into account before any decision is made to proceed with the break-up of the three Airports at Shannon, Cork and Dublin. Responding to a request by Deputy Breen for the Minister to clasrify the situation once and for all the Minister provided a written response - 

The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannonand Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place.

I have already received the Cork and Shannon business plans and I expect shortly to receive a finalised commentary on those plans by the DAA when they submit their own plan under the Act.

Following consideration of the business plans and the views of the three boards, and after consultation with the Minister for Finance, I will bring the matter to Government, taking account of the current state of the aviation market and the economy generally.