Ahern denies Cabinet split on terminal

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has denied there is any split within Government on proposals for a second terminal at Dublin airport and…

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has denied there is any split within Government on proposals for a second terminal at Dublin airport and said a decision had yet to be made on the future of Aer Lingus and the airport.

"The position is we're trying to do the best things for the future in Dublin airport and we're going through that consideration," Mr Ahern said.

He said as soon as that was finished, "we will clear it at Government".

Asked about last week's difference between Tánaiste Mary Harney and Minister for Transport Martin Cullen on aviation policy, when she described comments by Mr Cullen on the issue as "unhelpful", the Taoiseach said he saw no difference between himself and Ms Harney.

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"The Tánaiste said what I said last week, which is that when the Government comes to a decision, the Government will announce a decision. Until the Government come to that decision, there is no decision. So nobody should be saying what the decision is. Until we finish it there's no decision."

Mr Cullen had said he favoured the sale of a majority stake in Aer Lingus, and suggested the Dublin Airport Authority could own and operate a new terminal. The Tánaiste has said she favours competition at the terminal.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are due to hold discussions about the second terminal in an attempt to reach consensus on the issue before it goes to Cabinet in the coming weeks.

Mr Ahern also said he would be responding to the Ictu submission calling for a coherent policy on semi-State companies.

On Sunday Ictu general secretary David Begg raised questions about the proposed sale of a majority stake in Aer Lingus.

"They have put in some proposals - they asked us to do some assessments on it and we will do that," Mr Ahern said.

Mr Ahern also declined to comment on ongoing advertisements by Ryanair and its chief executive, Michael O'Leary, which have personally attacked the Taoiseach over what the company has described as his inaction on aviation issues.

"Well I'm told from the inside of Ryanair that every time I say something, he [MR O'LEARY]feels very happy," Mr Ahern said. "Every time I say nothing, he feels very unhappy, so I'll say nothing."

Mr Ahern's comments come as questions emerged about the ability of the Dublin Airport Authority to finance the construction of a second terminal.

The Irish Times reported yesterday that the authority's unpublished annual report showed debt levels at the company at a record €384 million.