The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, does not see any connection between the European Commission's ruling on Charleroi Airport and the restructuring of Aer Rianta.
He told the Dáil yesterday that, "regardless of the structure, there will be a level playing pitch, and the same rules will apply to everybody".
The ruling is due next week, but Mr Brennan said that from the briefing he received in Brussels yesterday, "there might be some positive aspects to the ruling".
Answering transport questions, Mr Brennan told Fine Gael's transport spokesman, Mr Denis Naughten, that "it is too early to be negative". He added that "regardless of ownership or structure, ultimately all airports must be well managed to allow them develop, seek maximum profitability, service passengers and increase numbers".
He conceded that he failed to meet his deadline for the publication of legislation on the restructuring of Aer Rianta.
"There are serious technical issues which resulted in me not being able to meet the deadline. There are serious issues relating to capital maintenance."
Labour's transport spokeswoman, Ms Róisín Shortall, said the Minister had "seriously mishandled" the restructuring, and asked what happened to the January deadline for the legislation.
Mr Brennan said the Department, with its advisers, whose expertise would cost € 1.5 million, had been working through the serious technical issues.
