By Laura Cummings BBC News Online business reporter

Budget airline Ryanair has claimed that the Irish tourism industry "faces decline and disaster".

While this inefficient, high-cost, civil servant-run airport monopoly continues to strangle access to Ireland our tourism industry will remain in the toilet

Ryanair

But the firm, flushed with the success it has enjoyed since September 11, claimed to be able to solve the issue within a year, should it be given the facilities it needs.

The Irish-owned airline has also lashed out at Aer Rianta, the Irish airports authority, for hampering the country's recovery through its "monopoly" on landing charges and routes.

But the Irish tourist board has questioned the claims, saying Ireland is suffering only in line with European counterparts.

Hard landing

Ryanair has been involved in a long-running dispute with Aer Rianta over the building of a new airport terminal in Dublin.

The craic gets a little pricier every year

In February, the Irish government approved the construction of the new building as part of a report into the effects of September 11 on tourism.

But the government recommended that the new building be run by Aer Rianta, despite an offer from Ryanair to construct the facility and despite Aer Rianta claiming that it made no financial sense.

Today, Ryanair told BBC News Online that it was pushing for the terminal to offer cheaper landing charges and faster turnaround times, in order for Ireland to compete with other international airports.

"While this inefficient, high-cost, civil servant-run airport monopoly continues to strangle access to Ireland our tourism industry will remain in the toilet."

Air Rianta responded by saying: "We are proceeding with the provision of fast turnaround facilities", and that it expects 10m more passengers to be able to pass through Dublin airport by 2004.

Grass is greener

Ryanair's claims are not taken too seriously by the tourist industry.

Watch out for the crowds

Tourism Ireland, a new tourism group set up to promote the country abroad, said 2002 was "a tough and challenging year for the tourism industry on the island of Ireland", but that this was "the case for tourism worldwide".

The body said September 11 and the current economic uncertainty were certainly affecting tourism in Ireland, particularly from the US.

But it said "It is vital that we don't talk ourselves into a crisis and we should focus instead on exploiting the opportunities that are there".

'One of its worst years ever'

In July, the Irish Minister for Sports, Education and Tourism allocated 3m euros (�1.9m) to Irish tourism to boost its overseas marketing.

Michael O'Leary is famously outspoken

The funding was part of government plans to lift tourism revenue following poor visitor numbers in the country this year.

But a report this week from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation showed prices in the tourism sector have been rising at a far higher level than the rate of inflation this year.

This, a Ryanair spokesman said, suggests "the tourist industry is undergoing one of its worst years ever."

As for Ryanair, however, things couldn't be better. The group told its annual general meeting this week that trading was "robust, with stronger than expected traffic numbers".

"Mercifully, Ryanair no longer relies on, nor needs Ireland," it said.