Ryanair confirmed today it has chosen Charleroi Airport in Belgium as its European base.
Ryanair's chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary took the opportunity to launch another attack on the Minister for Public Enterprise Ms O'Rourke.
Calling her air transport policy "inept". He described the Department OF Public Enterprise as "monopoly minders" which protected Aer Rianta at the expense of travelers.
He said the new routes were originally offered to Dublin and Shannon airports but were lost because of the high cost of operating from Ireland.
A spokesman for the Department of Public Enterprise said the Department no longer has any responsibility for landing charges and it is now a matter for the Commission for Aviation Regulation.
Ryanair will operate up to 30 flights daily from Charleroi to seven airports in England, Ireland, Italy, the south of France and Scotland.
The company said the base will create over 100 new jobs in Brussels-Charleroi with one million passengers being carried through the airport in the first 12 months.