Terminal should be in State hands, says Cullen

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has said he is against the concept of competing terminals at Dublin Airport.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Mr Cullen said there was no example anywhere in the world of competing terminals at the same airport and warned that landing charges could rise if such a terminal were built.

Mr Cullen described the proposed terminal as one of "the key strategic pieces of infrastructure in this country".

He said he saw "no evidence from any other country to suggest it shouldn't be in State hands".

Labour's Roisin Shorthall said she welcomed the Minister's acceptance that "the concept of competing terminals was a flawed notion".

Mr Cullen's comments come amid suggestions the Cabinet is divided over who should run the second terminal and whether the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) should be allowed take part in a tender process.

Although agreement over who builds the facility is believed to be possible, there is no agreement who should operate the facility. The Government has so far deferred making a decision on a second terminal despite a number of Cabinet meetings on the matter.

Tánaiste Mary Harney is understood to support the idea of competition at the airport.