The Minister for Transport has dismissed an Aer Lingus proposal to run a second terminal at Dublin Airport as "mischievous".
Martin Cullen took a break from meeting the board of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) today to tell reporters he was firmly opposed to duopolies and that he expected the DAA to begin implementing plans for a new terminal in the near future.
"I impressed upon the board . . . that it’s time for delivery and action," Mr Cullen said.
The Government is under pressure from Aer Lingus and Ryanair to be given the opportunity to operate a second terminal at the airport.
The owners of Omega Air, the McEvaddy brothers, own large tracts of land around Dublin airport and want to own and operate a new facility. They are preparing a case to be lodged with the European Commission accusing the Government of facilitating a monopoly at Dublin airport.
The Government wants to build and maintain ownership of the proposed new terminal in the hands of the DAA but is open to other companies operating the facility.
It emerged at the weekend that Aer Lingus had contacted aviation regulator Bill Prasifka with a proposal to operate and finance the terminal - perhaps in association with Ryanair.
When asked today about the proposal Mr Cullen said: "I’ve no specific requests in that regard but I’m not interested in duopolies either. I’ve seen in other countries where airlines have got their hands on terminals to the detriment of the paying public; to the detriment of costs; and to the detriment of the whole interaction of an airport.
"I think that’s [the Aer Lingus proposal] much more speculation to be honest about it. Mischievous, in a sense, than reality."
He said he was keen to see plans for the terminal progress and said discussions between the DAA and the facilitator on a site for the terminal were at an advanced stage, and that he expected to hear from the authority by late August or early September.