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Reply by
Mary O'Rourke, Minister Public Enterprise 11 Oct 01
to
Nora Owen regarding proposed new runway at Dublin Airport

Dear Nora
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the building of a second terminal and Aer Rianta's proposal for a second runway at Dublin Airport.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by you on this subject in the Dail on
3rd October, the recent terrorists attacks in the US have had a dramatic
impact on the global aviation industry, and as a result there is a range of urgent new priorities concerning the aviation sector which are being urgently addressed by the Government and by Governments throughout the world.

While the concept of a second, independent terminal at Dublin Airport to compete with Aer Rianta's terminal facilities is not new, it does not rank among the immediate priorities that must be addressed in the radically altered aviation environment in which we now find ourselves.

Nevertheless, as you will be aware, I have not adopted any particular ideological position in relation to the concept of competing terminal facilities at Dublin Airport. There are a number of complex considerations both for and against that concept on which my Department has had consultancy advice on more than one occasion in recent years. Generally speaking, that advice did not confirm the value of a competing second terminal as a viable proven concept in practice, but I stress again that I maintain an open mind on the matter.

If the concept of a second terminal was to be endorsed either by this or any future Government, I have already stated on a number of occasions that it would call for an open and transparent process to determine who will provide the competing terminal. It would also be necessary to determine in advance the detailed operational, legal, regulatory and commercial interface with the wider operation at Dublin Airport.

The global downturn in the aviation industry will, of course, have implications for the level of passenger traffic through Dublin Airport, at least in the short term, and this in turn may impact on Aer Rianta's previous timescale for the second runway at Dublin Airport. Obviously, the Company will need to re-examine this matter.

I have not had any recent discussions with management in Aer Rianta on the Company's proposal to build a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport. As I stated at the outset, the dramatic events of the past few weeks have shifted our focus and priorities, at least for the short term, as far as the aviation sector is concerned. My Department has, however, asked Aer Rianta for a considered view on the implications of the Regulator's recent determination of maximum airport charges for the future development of the Company

With kind regards.

Mary O'Rourke, Minister Public Enterprise