Call on Cowen to clear Cork Airport debt
Cork Airport Authority allowed itself to become a shield to protect the Government from its broken promises, according to the Mayor of Cork County.
Fine Gael councillor Tom Sheahan launched a scathing attack on the Cork Airport Authority at County Hall yesterday over its decision to accept a €113m debt.
Despite Ministerial promises that Cork would have a debt-free and independent airport, the board reluctantly accepted the “excessive” debt last week.
Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Sheahan said: “It was a despicable decision by the board, who allowed themselves to be used as a mudguard for the Ministers.”
The council has called for a meeting with the Airport board to get a detailed explanation of the decision. The Mayor’s stinging criticism was echoed by fellow opposition members.
Fine Gael leader on the council, Michael Hegarty called for the misinformation on how this debt will be managed to be clarified.
However, Labour leader on the council, Paula Desmond was not optimistic that the Airport board would agree to a meeting.
She said: “I’d be surprised if they did us the courtesy of attending a meeting. It is the Fianna Fáil Ministers who should be invited to explain this decision.”
Fine Gael councillor Dermot Sheehan said his native west Cork region would suffer most if the airport fails to cope.
He said: “The connection by water with the Cork-Swansea ferry is already severed. If anything were to happen to the airport connection, it would have a disastrous impact on tourism.”
Fianna Fáil’s Deirdre Forde said she was not happy with the situation, but insisted: “There is no point questioning that decision. The most important thing now is the future viability of the airport.”
Meanwhile, last night’s council meeting at City Hall saw councillors suspend standing orders to hold an emergency debate on the debt issue.
While the process of separating from Aer Rianta is now set to commence, several city councillors believe that question marks hang over the viability of the airport.
The matter was raised by Fine Gael group leader Jim Corr, who stressed the need to ensure that Cork Airport remains competitive. “The fear we have now is that it will become more expensive to use Cork Airport, and that will impede its viability,” he said.
Pointing to the debt-free pledge given by the then Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, in 2003, Cllr Corr urged councillors to call on the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, to clear the debt from National Development Plan funds.
Only one Fianna Fáil councillor spoke during the debate.
Tom O’Driscoll refrained from criticising the Government, but expressed reservations over the prospect of the Cork Airport Authority sanctioning the sale of adjoining lands to help service the debt.
“Selling land would hamper the potential for development. It already has a limited area, so all of that land is needed,” he said.
He acknowledged that the airport is now entering a difficult phase. “It is going to be a huge challenge. There is no point suggesting otherwise,” he said.
Members approved Cllr Corr’s proposal, which will now be forwarded to the Department of Finance.
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