AER Rianta's claim that the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport would impinge on safety has been described as "spurious" by Ryanair chairman, Dr Tony Ryan.

Dr Ryan, who is backing the plan for the new private terminal, said eight or nine international airlines operated their own terminals at Kennedy Airport in New York without any problem.

Aer Rianta has lodged a formal objection to the £50 million plan by brothers Des and Ulick McEvaddy to build a new terminal on 52 acres of farm land beside the airport's north west perimeter. The State owned airports authority said in its initial objection to the scheme that the plans were "premature".

Dr Ryan, who campaigned for the creation of a second civil airport at Baldonnel, also criticised Minister for Transport, Mr Lowry for asking Aer Rianta to respond on the implications of the project. But ideally, according to Dr Ryan, Ryanair would like to buy the original terminal building at Dublin Airport, which is currently occupied by Aer Rianta. Asked if he or the company had made a proposal to buy the building, Mr Ryan replied "I think that making a formal offer to Aer Rianta for anything is a waste of the typist's time."