Huntstown Airpark, the company seeking to build a privately-owned air terminal at Dublin airport, has said it will pursue the project despite having its plans rejected by An Bord Pleanala.
Mr Ulick McEvaddy, the joint owner of the company with his brother Desmond, told The Irish Times the decision to reject its appeal against a decision by Fingal County Council was only a "small skirmish in a bigger battle".
An Bord Pleanala rejected the appeal mainly because the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, is opposed to the scheme.
Mr McEvaddy said the company was planning to take a fresh legal action against Aer Rianta seeking confidential reports on the future requirements and expansion of Dublin Airport. Aer Rianta claims the reports are confidential.
Mr McEvaddy said the reports would show Aer Rianta was attempting to protect its position as a monopoly. He said Huntstown was also pursuing a complaint it had made to the European Commission claiming Aer Rianta's operations were in breach of EU law.
"We knew this was going to take many years, so the decision by An Bord Pleanala will not put us off," he said. "Aer Rianta will have to be brought kicking and screaming into the era of competition, however long it takes."
An Bord Pleanala ruled that in the absence of an indication that the scheme would be facilitated by the Department of Public Enterprise and Aer Rianta, it would be "contrary to the proper planning and development of the area".