asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state if he has promised the chairman, East Cork Fianna Fáil Dáilceanntair that Midleton will receive first consideration in the selection of the site for the proposed Cork airport, as reported in the Press on 27th November.

If it is suggested that a promise was given that only Midleton would be considered in the selection of a site for an airport at Cork, the answer is in the negative.

Has the Minister seen the report of the Cork Examiner of 27th November in which it was stated by the chairman referred to in the question that he had got a promise from the Minister that Midleton would receive first consideration?

The Deputy is possibly aware of the fact that a previous investigation of possible sites in the Cork area led to a recommendation of a site near Midleton. That fact was announced in the House.

Did the Minister give a promise to the chairman of the local Fianna Fáil organisation that Midleton would get first consideration? That is the question I have tabled and that is the question to which I want a reply.

My reply is that if anything I said is interpreted as meaning that only Midleton will be considered, then it is incorrect — but Midleton will certainly be considered.

Did the Minister not tell the chairman of the East Cork organisation that Midleton would get first consideration as far as he was concerned in respect of an airport for Cork?

I am not quite sure of the significance of the term "first consideration." Midleton will certainly be considered.

The Minister must have said something.

Deputy Lehane's site has been weighed in the balance and found wanting.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether the site of the proposed airport at Cork, as indicated in his reply to a question on the 26th November, 1952, will be at Ahenesk, Midleton, as this site is considered to be the most suitable place according to the report of the meteorological and other experts.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether, in view of the recent decision of the Government in regard to the establishment of an airport near Cork, full consideration will be given to the repeated claims to have it established at Ahenesk, Midleton, which from every viewpoint would be the ideal site.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together.

As I stated last week in reply to a question by Deputy MacCarthy, the Government have decided that there should now be a detailed examination of the nature and extent of the facilities required for an airport at Cork and of the minimum cost at which such facilities could be provided. This examination is now being undertaken in my Department and during the course of it the suitability of the site at Ahenesk, Midleton, and of various other possible sites will be fully considered.

Is the Minister aware that in a statement on the 16th July last he said that there were two suitable sites in Cork? He said further that the meteorological section had carried out investigations and tests over several years on these two sites and that they condemned one of them, Deputy Lehane's site, which left only Midleton.

I think that what I said was that neither of them was perfect——

No.

——but that, of the two, Midleton——

On a point of order. I have no site whatsoever. Deputy Corry has referred to a site for the airport as Deputy Lehane's site. Deputy Lehane has no site. Deputy Lehane was trying to get an airport for Cork. He is delighted to see so many people climbing on the band wagon now.

From Cork.