No 2nd Term DUB decision.....

[eoinok]

Here we have it lads in black and white.

How can we expect a longer runway, CAT III ILS, airbridges etc when one of the most congested airports (or seriously on the way becoming one) cant even get a 2nd terminal due to the dawdling by our government.

Amazing thing is that this proposal has been on the table since 1999!!!!!!!

Ahern refuses to answer airport questions

10 May 2005 21:57
The Taoiseach has refused to answer repeated questions in the Dáil on when a decision will be made to build a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

He said an announcement will be made on the matter shortly but refused to comment on who will build and run the terminal.

Meanwhile, he said the current terminal could cater for 20 million passengers, and that it was presently handling 17 million.

It is understood that the matter was discussed at Cabinet this morning however, no decision was reached.

It was also discussed at a meeting between the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, however, it is felt that further discussion is needed.

Fine Gael has accused the Government of being in a state of paralysis over the Dublin Airport issue after today's Cabinet made no decision.

Last month, it was claimed that the second terminal project at Dublin Airport was to go to the Dublin Airport Authority. One of the main bidders for the contract to build the terminal made the claim.

However, Government and Department of Transport sources categorically denied that any formal decision had been taken.

[apaddyinuk]

I think its time bertie went back to his office in Glasnevin and leave the country to be run by a leader who can make decisions!

[Flame]

So the man charged with running the country says that Dublin airport can handle 20 million pax and at the moment it is handling 17 million.

That means he believes that there is room for 3 million more passengers to go through Dublin...where has this idiot been for the past 4 weeks, when the huge difficulties with long lines, cramped space, and much more have been in the Irish media on a daily basis.....oopps, I forgot, he always uses the VIP area, which means of course, that he never sees the world that the rest of us mere mortals inhabit

[akerosid]

What the Taoiseach doesn't seem to understand is that you need to plan in advance for these (that would be his job); given the government's record on aviation, "shortly" doesn't provide any comfort at all and it's clear to me (and let me say I have no political affiliation to them) that were it not for the PDs, we'd have a short term compromise which didn't suit anyone. The man is just completely devoid of vision and the sooner he's pushed out, the sooner aviation can begin to achieve its real potential as a contributor to growth.

But let's not forget that the other victim here is Aer Lingus; last November, when the government's dithering cost EI its leadership, we were told we'd have a decision by the end of December, then it was January and we're still waiting. Since all signs point to the two parties being close together on the EI issue, why not announce it (and the increased US access announced by the Taoiseach), so that they can then focus on the terminal issue. Why should EI have to wait for something which is outside its control, before it can plan for its future?

It's a complete and utter mess, thanks to Ahern. Thank you, Comrade Taoiseach.

Incidentally, the two main papers differ today on how serious the matter is. The Irish Times seems to think that the two parties are pretty close to agreement, whereas the Indo was predicting a walkout, claiming that serious issues remain.

This was in today's Indo:

SERIOUS divisions between Fianna Fail and the PDs have again held up Cabinet approval for the building and operation of a second terminal at Dublin Airport.

The issue never reached the Cabinet table yesterday and last night sources on both sides said the seriousness of the situation could not be overstated.

--------------------------------------------------

That says "walkout" to me, but as much as I'd like to see the govt fall on this issue, I tend to believe the Irish Times version. However, I hope that well see a decision by next Tuesday at the latest. Not that my hopes are high or anything ...

[Irish Steve]

Martin Cullen, Transport Minister has gone on record to state that there is "no other airport in the world that has competing terminals, and to do so could cause prices to rise"

For the full story, see here (http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0512/airport.html)

Once again, we're seeing the spin starting, and an absence of clear thinking.

If, and it should be a very loaded if, the Gov't is thinking that DAA are the best option to run T2, they need to make it equally clear that the attitudes and methods of the semi state mentality are unacceptable, and that DUB has to compete, not with SNN & ORK, but with LHR, AMS, STN, CDG, FRA, etc etc. If other airports can make it happen, without the disastrous hassles that have been seen in recent weeks, then so can DUB.

If MOL doesn't like the DUB set up, then he had better compare it to the airports of similar size and capacity. It's no good complaining that DUB is more expensive than Kerry or Derry, there's a quantum difference in size and scale that means DUB will have higher operating costs in some areas. Derry & Kerry don't have the size and capability of RFF cover that DUB has, because Kerry & Derry don't accept the size aircraft that DUB does, and somehow that extra manning and equipment level that has to be paid for.

OK, in other areas, there can be no doubt that there have been massive over inflated budgets in areas that were nothing to do with aviation, and everything to do with protecting well paid luxury employment. Those days are gone, the Semi States have to now start making as clear a contribution to the overall prosperity of the country without being protected from the real cost of what they do. That's a concept that is regretably foreign to most semi state workers, and the sooner they have to accept that they are going to have to work in the same environment and climate as the rest of the population, the better for all of us.

It's unfortunately looking like the Gov't has got cold feet on all the issues that are urgent, so when in doubt, do nothing, and hope the problem goes away. This one is not going to, and the longer they leave it, the worse it's going to get.

[akerosid]

Quite right, Irish Steve!

The fact that there is no example doesn't mean it cannot be done.

DAA doesn't have the vision to deliver the air transport infrastructure for Dublin Airport and has shown this on numerous occasions ...

In a monopoly situation, it would still raise landing charges. Would still be unable or unwilling to plan forward; would still face debt issues and a lack of funds to plan urgently needed infrastructural changes (runway extension, new freight facilities, etc.)

Long term aim should be to have an overall airport authority - possibly the DAA itself, which would have responsibility for airfield maintenance, security, emergency services - the non commercial aspects of running an airport; the operators would then operate the terminals themselves (either owned or leased from the airfield operator) and pay a service charge to the operator, to cover costs.

Competition between these would:
- Provide a better air transport environment for the public
- Provide a level playing field, so that both (or more) operators could focus on the commercial side of the business - a pleasant travel experience AND developing new markets.

Monopoly would just maintain airport under the control of a company which is heavily in debt, which doesn't provide a good travelling experience, which plans short term, which doesn't have the space to grow.

How many more reasons do they want?

FF not really seeing the big picture, or long term planning. Don't seem to be aware of what an embarrassment Dublin Airport is.

Irony is that they have recognised that it is part of the state's critical infrastructure, yet they're willing to trust its future to a company which has shown how inept it is at forward planning; it knows the DAA doesn't have the land to grow, so why insist on the DAA being involved.