Ryanair seeks removal of aviation regulator

Ryanair has called on Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey to remove aviation regulator Cathal Guiomard from his post for failing to properly regulate the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and for allowing costs at the regulator's office to rise unchecked, writes Ciaran Hancock, Business Affairs Correspondent.

The low-cost airline has also lodged a complaint with the Consumers Association of Ireland about the DAA's recent decision to increase daily short-term car parking charges from €30 to €40.

At a briefing in Dublin yesterday, Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary launched a scathing and at times highly personal attack on Mr Guiomard.

He described the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) as being "bloated" and questioned why its annual costs have risen from €1.8 million in 2002 to €3.2 million in 2006. He also questioned why the regulator was set to pay €921,000 in consultants fees this year when no fully fledged review of airport charges is required until 2009. "What have they been doing?" he asked.

Figures produced by Ryanair yesterday, showed the average salary at the CAR is estimated at €86,600 for this year compared with €48,600 in 2002. Staff numbers have grown over the period from 16 to 21. Mr O'Leary said the CAR should move its office from its current "expensive" location on Earlsfort Terrace in the city centre to Dublin airport. He said staff numbers should be halved.

Mr Guiomard declined to respond to Mr O'Leary's remarks.

Mr O'Leary criticised the DAA for the costs of Terminal 2, which he said would be €840 million.

The DAA, however, has said the terminal will cost €395 million and €610 million when Pier E is eventually added to the facility.

A spokesman for the DAA said: "The charges levied by the DAA are published transparently on our website and are only levied on services that the DAA provide. Ryanair raises more than €60 million a year in so-called airport taxes from passengers who never fly."

Mr O'Leary said he did not expect to receive a positive response from Minister Dempsey.