Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will appoint a chairman to the Cork Airport Authority; when he will grant Cork Airport Authority the autonomy it requires in order to develop its own business strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34161/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is as set out in replies to previous Parliamentary Questions, Numbers 52 and 31, on 1 October 2008.

Reply to PQ No. 52: The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation.

All three airport business plans have to be coordinated by the Dublin Airport Authority for eventual approval by the Minister for Finance and myself. Among the requirements to be satisfied in advance of separation is the need to ensure the financial sustainability of all three state airports.

I have already received the Cork and Shannon business plans but I expect shortly to receive a finalised commentary on those plans by the DAA when they submit their own plan under the Act. I would expect DAA's commentary to address recent trends in the aviation market, the challenges facing the State airports and the financial and operational aspects of restructuring.

Reply to PQ No. 31: I would like to put on record my appreciation of the work of Joe Gantly as Chairman of the Cork Airport Authority until his resignation in August. I hope to make an announcement on it in the near future.