Michael O'Leary has offered to build a third terminal at Dublin Airport for €200 million.

Speaking at a gathering that included Government ministers, the Ryanair chief executive agreed that Dublin Airport would need a new terminal if its already huge number of annual passengers continues to grow. He does not, however, believe that the State-owned daa should have any involvement with it.

O'Leary's comments came last week at a Fine Gael business breakfast attended by Finance Minister Michael Noonan, as well as the likes of Simon Coveney, Leo Varadkar and Richard Bruton.

They echoed sentiments expressed by O'Leary relating to the second terminal prior to its completion by daa in 2010. He was a vocal critic of both the design and cost of that terminal at the time.

O'Leary also restated his belief last week that airlines should pay no more than a collective €250 million for the proposed second runway, a figure agreed with the Commission for Aviation Regulation two years ago.

The daa has estimated that the runway is likely to cost €320 million, which could lead to an increase in passenger charges, currently capped at €9.87 a head.