SEAMUS BRENNAN, the transport minister, is set to invite Paddy Mullarkey, a former senior civil servant, to assess the options for the second terminal at Dublin airport before bringing any final proposal to cabinet later this year.
The approach will take place next month after the promised government reshuffle — provided Brennan retains the transport portfolio. Mullarkey is expected to chair a three-man committee with a brief to recommend the best way to finance and build a terminal to host predominantly low-fares, short-haul flights with quick turnaround times.
The other members of the committee will be Sir Gilbert Thompson, who is credited with the successful development of Manchester airport, and Paul Gaines, an American expert on aviation issues. Brennan had previously engaged the trio to look at the initial proposals to develop the airport.
A decision has yet to be taken on whether to opt for a private terminal or a joint venture between the new Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and one of the consortiums.
Aer Rianta sources indicate a joint venture between the DAA and a developer may be the best bet. A new terminal financed solely by the airport operator is unlikely to be an option, given its cash-strapped situation. The DAA is likely to come into existence owing some €400m.
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Mullarkey’s team will be asked to liaise with Gary McGann, the former Smurfit chief executive, who takes up the position of DAA chairman on October 1.
Brennan does not want confrontation with the Aer Rianta unions and has emphasised there is no opposition from the government to the unionisation of the new terminal.
It is understood Ulick McEvaddy, a developer, is willing to enter a joint venture with the DAA. He owns land adjacent to Dublin airport that may be suitable for the planned terminal. The site is sandwiched between strips of Aer Rianta land so any problem could be overcome reasonably easily.
But McEvaddy’s land is more than half a mile from the existing terminal and would likely entail extra cost because of the need to build a light rail or metro system to link the two sites.
The original Aer Rianta proposal to build a new terminal close to the existing site would get round this problem but it would cause severe disruption to the already chaotic situation at Dublin airport during the construction phase.
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McEvaddy has also indicated that he would be prepared to deal with Aer Rianta unions and would not insist on operating a non-union terminal. Union sources also suggested that a no-strike clause could be possible, along the lines of the one agreed by Siptu with Connex, the operator of the Luas.