Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Transport if his approval was sought for the full package of financial measures for the former executives and directors of Aer Rianta; his views on whether such levels of compensation were appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15572/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Ministerial approval in respect of payments to former Aer Rianta board members related to certain cases involving the premature termination of their terms of office. It was agreed by my predecessor that three board members who had not completed their terms of office as envisaged at the time of their original appointment should be paid the balance of their directors' fees which would otherwise have been payable to them had they completed their terms of office.

Aside from that specific arrangement, the approval of my predecessor was not sought or given for the severance terms of the outgoing acting chief executive which, I understand, were in the context of her contract as deputy chief executive. Nor was my predecessor's approval sought for the severance terms of the other members or executives of the former Aer Rianta board prior to its replacement by the Dublin Airport Authority on 1 October last year.

I understand from the Dublin Airport Authority that all directors on the new board of that authority have been fully briefed on the relevant provisions of the guidelines for State bodies, companies and ethics legislation and made fully aware of the business code of ethics.