Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of directors he has appointed to the board of Aer Lingus; if there are more Government slots on the board of Aer Lingus still to be filled; if so, when he will fill these positions; the names and relevant qualifications of all current Government appointed directors to the board of Aer Lingus; the directions he has given these directors particularly in terms of the critical maintenance of Irish air connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19855/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I have appointed three directors to the Board of Aer Lingus and this fulfils the quota of Ministerial Nominees permitted under the terms of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company. The nominees are Mr. Francis Hackett, Mr. Chris Wall and Dr. Colin Hunt. All three directors are well established in the business sector and bring a wealth of commercial, economic and legal expertise to the board. Under Company Law all directors are obliged to pursue the best interests of the company. Subject to that duty the three Minister's Nominees have been mandated to seek to ensure that all future decisions of the company that have significant implications for wider Government, aviation or regional development policies are considered at board level. In any such decisions, the State-nominated directors are directed to seek to reconcile commercial and public policy objectives.