A Fine Gael Front Bencher has called on the government to honour the commitment given to Cork Airport and reject the Cassells report.

The TD for Cork South Central, Simon Coveney, has spoken out over the controversial report, claiming the government is reneging on their promise that Cork Airport would open debt free.

The report was written by trouble shooter Peter Cassells who had been asked to mediate in a row between Dublin Airport and Cork Airport over who should pay the €220m bill for the new terminal building at the Cork facility.

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Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), however, refused to pay the cost of the Cork terminal and said it would not engage with Cork unless it agreed to pay at least €100m of the debt.

Mr Coveney said: "Cork airport needs a debt-free status to compete with the size and scale of Dublin airport, and Ireland needs Cork Airport to be competitive in order to divert congested traffic from Dublin.

"While I respect Peter Cassells as a negotiator, this is not an issue that needs a compromise solution between Cork and Dublin airport authorities. It is an impasse that needs a political solution, whereby the government fulfils its clear commitment.

The Fine Gael minister for Cork went on to say: "On that basis I totally reject the proposals to saddle Cork with €113 million of debt as the price we are being forced to pay for independence from the DAA."

See: Cassells Recommends Cork Pay Terminal Debts.

(DW/JM)