asked the Minister for Transport and Power his Department's plans for the future development of Dublin Airport.

Current plans for development at Dublin Airport provide mainly for the construction of a new east-west runway to the north of the terminal area as well as a second parallel runway to the south of this area when traffic growth requires it. Extensions to the apron and to an existing hangar are also planned. A new control tower and air navigation services building will also be required.

The acquisition of the necessary land for the proposed runways is in train and consultations are proceeding with the appropriate authorities about planning and related considerations. It is not possible at this stage to state when construction work on the new runway to the north of the terminal area will commence but the indications now are that the runway will not be required before the end of the 1970s.

Has the Minister no plans whatever for the use of the vast acreage of land owned by Aer Rianta for industrial development which could be based on the airport itself and which would encourage employment in the north county Dublin area, in view of the unemployment being created there because of the present recession?

No. Aer Rianta could not engage in that kind of activity. They are there to run the airport.

Something on the style of the Shannon Free Airport Development Company?

No. The Shannon Free Airport Development Company was set up under separate legislation. Aer Rianta could not do that in Dublin.

Would the Minister agree to consider setting up a company on those lines to encourage an industrial zone around Dublin Airport which would provide employment?

There is nothing to stop anybody setting up an industrial zone around Dublin Airport.

On Aer Rianta land?

If anybody wishes to come to me with a proposition for such an industrial zone. I shall be delighted to go to Aer Rianta with it. I cannot promise they will agree to it, because they have the responsibility of trying to foresee the future growth of that airport and having land available to cater for that growth. There is at the moment, all over the world, as the Deputy will know, a turn back in air travel, and for this reason the expansion of runways at Dublin Airport is not envisaged until the end of the 1970s. No doubt those lands will be wanted by Aer Rianta in the future for expansion of the runways, and if there were factories on them obviously they could not expand the airport.

With due respect, I do not think even the Minister believes that. Surely all that would be required for the runways would be strips of land on either side for safety purposes? There is a lot of other land around the airport that could be used.

We cannot have argument at Question Time.

It could be used as an industrial duty-free zone.

That may be the Deputy's opinion. There is no more land than would be necessary for the safe operation of Dublin Airport in the future.

They are not the facts.

The Deputy may not interpret the facts in the same way as Aer Rianta do, but they are the facts.

Could the Minister tell me how long the east-west runway has been on the drawing board?

I have not got that information. I shall get it and send it on to the Deputy.

Would the Minister agree with me that the provision of a first-class restaurant up to international standards is an essential at Dublin Airport, and could he give me an assurance that such facilities will continue to be provided?

No. I am afraid that is a matter purely for the board of Aer Rianta.

Has the Minister any little bit of influence there at all?

The Minister is responsible for the operations of Aer Rianta.

No. Aer Rianta are responsible to me for their operations. I cannot take part in the day-to-day running; they are charged with the responsibility of running the airport.

Is the Minister suggesting to me that the continuance or non-continuance of a first-class restaurant at the airport is a matter of day-to-day running? I would suggest to him it is a very important matter of policy, and surely he must be in a position to tell me what the plans of Aer Rianta are in this regard.

No. I do not know what the plans are in this regard, but if the Deputy puts down the question, I shall certainly find out for him, but I think commercial considerations would come in here.

I agree there are many difficulties, but the question Deputy Burke has down asks about the Department's plans for the future development of Dublin Airport. I think it is perfectly legitimate for me to ask in that connection for an assurance from the Minister that first-class international standards for restaurant facilities will continue to be provided at the airport.

I am sorry. It may be perfectly legitimate for the Deputy to ask the question, but I have not got the answer here. I could give no such assurance to the House.

It is a very serious neglect of duty by the Minister when he is not aware of the situation in this regard.

Nonsense. Deputy Haughey must have been prompted to ask this question because he heard some rumour that the airport restaurant is closing down. I do not know whether it is or it is not.

The Minister should know.

No, I should not know.

The livelihood of a great number of my constituents is involved in this question, decent working people, and the Minister says he does not know or does not care——

I did not say that, What I said was that the Deputy had obviously heard some rumour that this airport restaurant was closing down, which I do not know anything about. He expects me here, without consulting Aer Rianta, to give a categorical assurance that it will not shut down. I think it is totally unreasonable and an abuse of the privilege of this House.

It is inherent in the question.

If the Deputy wanted that information, he should have put down the question.

It is inherent in the question.