Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Transport the detailed process that was involved in the selection of the current chairperson of the interim Dublin Transport Authority; the procedures that were put in place to ensure the selected candidate met basic criteria for example, sufficient leadership skills and experience, expertise and experience in managing large budgets, communication skills, strategic planning and management experience; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14831/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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In November 2005, I appointed a Dublin Transport Authority establishment team. I asked the team to make recommendations on the establishment of a transport authority for the greater Dublin area, addressing the remit of the authority, its powers, structure, organisation and human and other resource requirements and such other matters as the team considered appropriate.

I also asked the team to give advice on the content of legislation required to establish the proposed authority on a statutory basis, and to make recommendations on what interim arrangements should be put in place pending the enactment of the legislation.

I appointed Professor Margaret O'Mahony, head of the department of civil, structural and environmental engineering and director of the centre for transport research at Trinity College, as chair of the team. I selected Professor O'Mahony on the basis of her previous experience as a member of the board of the Railway Procurement Agency in delivering a major infrastructure project, her strong engineering background, her extensive experience of transport in Dublin and her wide knowledge of transport issues and research in the field of transport arising from her role as director of the centre for transport research.