The Minister said that "Having considered the business plans submitted by the boards of the three airport authorities (Dublin, Cork and Shannon) I have accepted their view that it would be best to defer the separation of the three airports (under State Airports Act) until 2011 given the current very difficult aviation market.
Discussions are taking place between the chairpersons of the three airport authorities to ensure that appropriate governance arrangements are in place in the period before eventual separation. The aim is to put in place structures that will allow Cork and Shannon airports to be operated under a commercial mandate at local level while ensuring appropriate safeguards for accountability to the DAA.
I believe that this decision will provide an opportunity to the newly appointed Chairman of the CAA, Gerry Walsh to work with his board and management to ensure that Cork Airport can realise the potential provided on foot of the very substantial investment in the airport in recent years. Likewise, Shannon Airport will need this period to successfully implement the recently signed Ireland-US Pre-Clearance Agreement and to build on the potential of the soon-to-be restored Shannon-Heathrow route. ”
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