Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 213: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans regarding the future of the three sub boards created from the original airport authority; if he has plans to abandon the idea of separating the regional airports; if he has undertaken an estimate of the expected cost savings from consolidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35180/09]

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

Question 216: To ask the Minister for Transport, further to Parliamentary Question No. 540 of 16 September 2009, if he will report on the proposed make-up of each of the individual boards at Cork, Shannon and Dublin Airports; the number of Government appointees to those boards; the number of union representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35241/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 216 together.

In December 2008, following the unanimous recommendation of the boards of the three State Airport Authorities, I announced the deferral until 2011 of a decision on the separation of the Airports under the State Airports Act, 2004. I have no proposals to change that policy position.

I have agreed with the three airport authorities new governance arrangements which provide, inter alia, for revised board structures. The core change is that now there will be reciprocal membership of the Boards of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) and Shannon Airport Authority (SAA). Under this arrangement the Chairmen of the CAA and SAA will be appointed to the DAA board and DAA senior executive nominees will be appointed to the boards of the CAA and SAA. Accordingly, the new structure of the 13 member Board of the DAA is as follows:

In accordance with the State Airports Act 2004 all of the directors of the DAA are appointed by the Minister for Transport, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, taking account of the outcome of elections held in accordance with the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Act 1977, when appointing the worker directors.

The new structure of the 9 member Boards of the CAA and SAA is as follows:

In accordance with the State Airports Act 2004, all directors to the Cork and Shannon Boards are appointed by the Minister for Transport with the consent of the Minister for Finance. Under Section 9(9) of the 2004 Act, the Minister may also appoint on a temporary basis persons as worker directors following consultation with union representatives.