Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of staff at an authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45024/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Dublin Airport Authority is a commercial State body, I have no function in relation to the number of staff employed by it. However, details of the number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the authority are set out in its annual report and financial statements, which are laid before the Oireachtas and copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Transport the breakdown of special bonuses or special executive pension arrangements for the top management figures of an authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45025/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the salary of the chief executive officer of an authority (details supplied) is determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45028/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Transport the salary details for the top ten management figures in an authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45030/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 199 and 201 together.

It is the responsibility of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to agree the terms and conditions (including pay and emoluments) of their Chief Executive within the remuneration levels approved by my Department with the consent of the Department of Finance. Details of the Chief Executive's pay and emoluments are published in the DAA's annual report, a copy of which is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas each year and which is available in the Oireachtas Library. I have no statutory responsibility for the pay and emoluments of any other DAA staff member.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Transport if management or directors of an authority (details supplied) receive free air travel, be it first class, business class or economy class; if they are entitled to VIP access to airports here as a result of being employed at the authority; if so, the names, the title of position held and the nature of the entitlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45027/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Transport the remuneration and entitlements for board members of an authority (details supplied) including company car, health insurance, pension add-ons where applicable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45029/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 200 together.

My responsibility with regard to directors of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is confined to appointing them and ensuring their fees are at the level as determined by the Department of Finance from time to time. I have no responsibility with regard to the expenses or entitlements of the management of the Company. Directors' remuneration is disclosed in the Annual Report and audited financial statements of the DAA. The audited accounts are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas annually and are available in the Oireachtas Library.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Transport if an authority (details supplied) covered the cost of any ministerial travel, entertainment or functions during 2007 and 2008; if so, the Ministers involved and the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45034/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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While such costs are operational matters for the Dublin Airport Authority, I have been informed by the authority that it did not meet the costs of any Ministerial travel, entertainment or functions during the period concerned.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Transport the way the decision to create three boards for the airports under the control of an authority (details supplied) was reached; the cost to run these three boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45038/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the State Airports Act 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports with their own boards. The decision to restructure the three airports was considered the best way to equip them to deal with the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation sector at that time. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place. In the meantime, the Act provides that both Cork and Shannon Airport Authorities would remain within the operational control and ownership of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). In December 2008, following the recommendations 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 given the current very difficult circumstances in the aviation sector. As part of these arrangements both the Cork and Shannon Airport Authorities will have a maximum of nine directors each. DAA will have a board of 13 directors in all. As to the costs of the DAA board, relevant directors' remuneration is disclosed in the annual report and audited financial statements which are laid before each House of the Oireachtas annually. In the case of the Shannon Airport Authority and the Cork Airport Authority directors' remuneration in 2008 amounted to €178,000 and €124,000 respectively.