It is an "embarrassment" to not have a rail link to Dublin Airport, Labour TD Duncan Smith has claimed, as he said proper public transport was one solution to parking issues there.
Yesterday, Ryanair said daa should temporarily use land it owns around the airport for cark parking over the summer period to ease an ongoing shortage of parking spaces.
In a statement, daa rejected the "simplistic view" that it can open up fields, comparing the idea to "a county fair".
Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, Mr Smith said "opening fields is not a solution" and that he "would like to see the debate to shift to" increasing connectivity.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers acknowledged that parking was a "difficulty" at the airport.
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Daa is currently awaiting a decision from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission about whether it can purchase the former QuickPark facility near the airport.
Speaking on the same programme, Mr Chambers said the Government cannot circumvent a process under competition law.
"The CCPC has an obligation to assess that under competition rules... We have to adhere to the process that is there. I accept it is frustrating for everyone involved who wants to park," he said.
