Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the current status of legislation to merge Shannon Airport and Shannon Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22864/13]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

63. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the current status of legislation to merge Shannon Airport and Shannon Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22863/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 63 together.   These relate to the merger of Shannon Airport and Shannon Development.

Work on the preparation of the heads of a Bill to provide for the merger of the Shannon Airport Authority, SAA, and a restructured Shannon Development is ongoing in my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and with the assistance of the Attorney General's office. It is unlikely that work on the new legislation will be sufficiently advanced to facilitate its enactment prior to the summer recess and I am now looking to the autumn session to introduce the Bill to the House.  It remains the position, however, that when the heads are finalised and approved by Government, I will refer them to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht for consideration prior to drafting.

This has no material effect on the plans for the merger, preparations for which continue apace. The high level steering group of key Departments meets on a regular basis to oversee the implementation of the Government decisions in relation to Shannon Airport and Shannon Development. The Chairman of SAA and a representative of ICTU also serve on this group. Transition teams at senior management level are also in situ in both SAA and Shannon Development to identify and agree the necessary change processes and transitional measures to ensure the smooth implementation and management of the merger, while also ensuring that normal day-to-day business and operations carry on uninterrupted.

Staff transfers from Shannon Development to Fáilte Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA are scheduled to take place in June following conclusion of a facilitation process between management and union representatives in the company, along with relevant Departments, to address a number of staff issues, including the recent Labour Court recommendation on grading. The deadline for completion of that process is 23 May. In addition, the process to recruit a chief executive for the Shannon Airport Authority and the new Shannon entity is nearing completition and I expect an announcement will be made shortly.

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the progress made to date on creating new opportunities and businesses in Shannon through the merger of the airport with Shannon Development. The Minister indicated it is unlikely that legislation would be enacted prior to the summer recess but that progress continues apace. I welcome that the heads of the Bill will be presented to the Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht. I ask the Minister to confirm whether the heads are ready and indicate when he will be in a position to present them to the committee. I also welcome that the process of recruiting a chief executive officer for the new Shannon entity is nearing completion. When will that key appointment be made?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The heads of the Bill are not yet ready but I anticipate they will be ready to go to Cabinet and the committee before the summer recess, thus allowing drafting to be completed in time to publish the legislation by autumn and the Bill to be brought through the Houses during the autumn session. The appointment of CEO is being handled by the board and chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority and I am informed that an announcement in that will be made shortly.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am a former Aer Lingus worker and I am concerned about what goes on in Shannon but I am sure my colleagues in Shannon will agree with me that road safety and other issues take precedence at present. The Minister disallowed questions which we validly submitted on the investigation into the termination of fixed penalty points but he deigned to comment on the matter on the public airwaves.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That has nothing to do with Shannon Airport.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like the Minister to comment on the matter in this House. We sent him a letter over one month ago to raise our concerns about it.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy Daly does not give a hoot about Shannon workers.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have tabled questions on previous occasions but they have been disallowed. Is this what Fine Gael mean by transparency in Government?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As an Aer Lingus worker with a full-time job as a politician, I hope Deputy Daly is not receiving remuneration from Aer Lingus, holding a post open or using the car park or other privileges. One job is enough for anyone. The report will be published by the Minister for Justice and Equality at 3.30 p.m. I ask Deputies to withhold judgment until they have had a chance to read it.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister commented on it.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am happy to repeat what I said earlier today. The report gives me confidence that the penalty point system has integrity. It has been hugely successful in terms of freeing up Garda time and changing Garda behaviour. The report found that a small number of gardaí may not have used their discretionary powers appropriately but that is a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner to discuss after the report is published this afternoon. It is not appropriate for me to speak about Garda matters.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is difficult to understand how the Minister can have confidence in an internal report when the whistleblowers who helped to bring the matter to light were never interviewed.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is not relevant to the original question.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perhaps the Minister would like to order a serious and independent investigation.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy should ask relevant questions.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have concrete evidence of these practices from within the Houses of the Oireachtas. Unfortunately, I am guilty but I admitted that. Will people like Deputies Doyle and Troy now come forward?

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is out of order.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Perhaps Senator Kelly might also come forward.

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On a point of order, this has nothing to do with Shannon Airport. The Deputy is abusing privilege. This is unacceptable.

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We are moving on. Please resume your seat.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He does not give a hoot about Shannon Airport.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Shannon Airport is important and it is regrettable we have not had the opportunity to discuss it.

Luke Flanagan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

He was not so reluctant this morning.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputies' questions concerned Garda matters, which are the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They are matters of road safety.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They are not for me to answer in the first instance.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Pontius Pilate comes to mind. He is washing his hands of road safety issues.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I did not disallow any questions. Neither I nor any other Minister has the power to disallow questions. They were disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle.