The Minister said: "Civil aviation safety and aerodrome licensing are the responsibility of the Department of Transport in London. I have spoken today with the British Aviation Minister, Gillian Merron, who has offered to facilitate a meeting between the independent CAA and Derry City Council, the owners of the airport.
"I understand that the Council is already in contact with CAA officials to discuss a plan of action to address the safety concerns in order to get the suspension lifted. I hope to meet the Council shortly to find out what progress has been made."
The CAA action follows an inspection of the airport last week and it identified a number of failings in the safety management system including poor drainage on the runways and taxi! ways, maintenance of runway markings and ground lighting, arrangements for bird control and the removal of obstacles such as trees and lamposts.
The aerodrome licence for the airport has been suspended with effect from midnight on 24 May 2007 until further notice.
