Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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185. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to recent media reports of tensions between the board of the Dublin Airport Authority and its chief executive, to set out all engagements his Department has had with the chair and the board since 1 June 2025, including dates, attendees and subjects discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49424/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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188. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to detail the communications between his Department and the Dublin Airport Authority regarding leadership continuity and contingency planning for airport operations during the peak travel period and the winter season, including designation of an interim chief executive if required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49427/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 188 together.

My Department has ongoing and regular engagement with daa as is the norm in terms of the relationship between line Departments and Commercial State Bodies (CSBs) under their Minister's remit. While operational matters at CSBs are matters for the boards of those CSBs, and it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on operational matters, I can advise the Deputy that senior officials in my Department have been apprised by the Chairperson of daa on governance matters in the period since 1 June. I have been kept informed by my officials on those governance matters, as appropriate. With regard to the Deputy's question about contingency arrangements, the Board of daa has publicly confirmed that the current CEO is, and remains, CEO of daa.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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186. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a mediator has been appointed in relation to the dispute at the Dublin Airport Authority; the process by which the mediator was selected; the cost met to date by the company for mediation and associated legal services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49425/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. Operations within State companies are matters for the Boards of those companies. I have forwarded your question to daa for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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187. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether any proposed exit or settlement package for the current chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority will comply in full with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and with Government guidance on severance; to outline the approval pathway, including any role of NewERA and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49426/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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192. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process and timeline for the appointment of a permanent chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority, including selection criteria, remuneration range within Government pay policy and expected date for advertisement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49431/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 192 together.

The appointment of CEOs to Commercial State bodies under the aegis of my Department must be made in accordance with establishing legislation of the agency and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, and should be by means of an open recruitment process, undertaken by the agency.

Terms and conditions for the appointment of CEOs requires the approval of the Minister for Transport and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Any terms agreed will be in keeping with the salary bands provided under the recent Senior Post Remuneration Committee Review.

Any proposed exits or settlement schemes across our agencies will be considered by me in keeping with the relevant circulars, establishing legislation of the agency and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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189. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total legal and professional fees incurred by the Dublin Airport Authority in 2024 and year-to-date 2025, disaggregated by matter, including mediation, board advisory services and litigation related to the thirty-two million annual passenger cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49428/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. However, as the matters raised are a matter for daa I have forwarded your question to daa for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a response within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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190. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to publish the dates of all board evaluations of the Dublin Airport Authority since 2023, any external governance reviews commissioned and the actions arising from those reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49429/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question.

In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, daa's annual report and financial statements include information on performance evaluations of the Board and its committees. The 2024 and 2023 reports as published on daa's website provide details on the evaluations which took place in those years and note any findings.

In relation to external governance reviews, the Code requires that an external evaluation proportionate to the size and requirements of the State body should be carried out at least every three years. The last external board evaluation was completed in 2023 and the process for the next review is due to be commenced this year.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has received any protected disclosures or significant complaints concerning the governance or culture of the Dublin Airport Authority since 2023; the way in which these were handled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49430/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. It is my Department’s policy not to comment on the nature of any Protected Disclosures which are received, to protect the identity of reporters and the integrity of any investigations under the Protected Disclosures Act. The Department provides general statistics on the number of reports received and the nature of wrongdoing reported within as part of an annual report published on the Department’s website however details of specific content are not included.

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to list any formal directions or consents issued by his Department to the Dublin Airport Authority in 2024 and 2025 under to the State Airports Act 2004 or other governing instruments, including the reasons for each decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49433/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to thank the Deputy for his question.

In 2024, in line with the requirements of relevant legislation, I provided four Ministerial approvals to daa. These approvals related to daa business proposals. In 2025, I provided five such approvals to daa. These related to business proposals, borrowing, pensions and service delivery restructuring.