Madam, -Vincent Wall of Aer Rianta (July 7th) claims that the taxpayers of Ireland won't be paying for Bertie Ahern's decision to allow the Aer Rianta/DAA monopoly to build the second terminal.
The taxpayers of this country have already begun paying for this folly. On April Fools' Day last this caring airport monopoly increased the short-term car parking rates by 50 per cent without any consultation or justification. The present proposals being considered by the Aviation Regulator envisage passenger charges at Dublin Airport rising by up to 40 per cent to pay for Dublin Airport's second terminal and other building follies.
Taxpayers will pay for Bertie Ahern's airport monopoly every time they park a car at the airport, every time they pass through this airport, and every time they join a queue at this inefficient and outdated monopoly.
By contrast, if the second terminal were built by any one of the 13 competing operators, charges to passengers would fall, car parking charges would be reduced, and queues would be eliminated. Taxpayers will continue to pay for Bertie's blunders, whether it's pools that leak, or terminals that creak. - Yours, etc,
PETER SHERRARD, Head of Communications, Ryanair, Dublin Airport.