Minister Signals Cork Airport Issue to be resolved by end of year

Fine Gael Cork Senator Deirdre Clune raised the issue of Cork airport as an adjournment with the Minister for Transport and Sport Leo Varadkar TD. She asked the Minister what the plan was for Cork in relation to gaining independence from the Dublin Airport Authority and if he could provide a timeframe on when the issue at the airport would be resolved.

The Senator was raising the issue in the context of the Minister’s announcement approximately two weeks ago on Shannon airport. It has raised issues about Cork Airport and a concern about when the same situation will arise in Cork being the next step in the restricting of airports.

“Cork Airport is extremely important to the region. It is one of the reasons for the high level of foreign direct investment in the Cork area, including in pharmaceutical and IT companies. The connections to such strong hubs as London and Amsterdam are vital to the region. I have read the Booz report and believe the reporting on Cork Airport is positive. To date, Cork Airport has been treated as an appendage in that it does not have its own decision making process, which is what is needed” said Senator Clune.

Senator Clune stressed to the Minister that Cork needed its own autonomous board and encouraged the government to reach a decision on the future of the airport. “Having spoken to airport management, workers, directors, board members, and the business community as a whole, I am aware they want Cork Airport to have its own autonomous board and, as recommended in the Booz report, to make decisions for itself and not to be under the thumb of Dublin airport”.

The Minister in response recognised the importance of Cork airport and spoke of how numbers had risen significantly in the airport and that he was setting up a steering group in relation to the airport which will report to Government. The Government will then make its decision. The Minister confirmed that “recent statistics show that the number of international passengers going through the airport is increasing. The recovery in international passenger numbers is more encouraging in Cork than it is in Dublin”.

“I await the government’s decision on the Airport and will work hard to ensure the right decision is made for Cork “said Senator Clune.