Vol. 387 No. 6
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if it is his intention to replace any further member of the board of Connaught Regional Airport, County Mayo; and if it is his intention to have established a trust for the ownership or control of the airport.
29.
asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if it is the intention of the Government to replace further members of the board of Horan International Airport, County Mayo.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 29 together.
Under the provisions of the memorandum and articles of association of Connaught Airport Development Company Limited, the Ministers for Finance and for Tourism and Transport have the right to nominate a total of three directors to the board of the company. It would not be appropriate to speculate on any changes in their nominees to the board of the airport company which the Ministers might decide to make in the future, in the exercise of their rights in this regard.
I can also confirm that the establishment of a trust in favour of the people of the west, and of County Mayo in particular, for the ownership and control of the airport is at an advanced stage. It is expected that the trust will be in place in the near future.
Is the Minister aware that ownership of Horan International Airport, with more than £10 million Government money, is now vested in the directors who each have a £1 share in the airport? Irrespective of the merits of the board of directors would the Minister not agree that it is a shame that the trust has not already been put in place? Can he give the House an explanation for the delay occasioned over the past three or four years in implementing the terms of the deed of trust originally drawn up, supported by the late Monsignor Horan and the former and present Archbishops? Can he explain why the terms of the trust are not operational other than in the fact that it would appear to be the wish of the Government to maintain the airport within the control of the present board of directors?
As I said at the outset, Fianna Fáil commitment to the airport is well established.
They did not allocate any money to it.
This Government will continue to assist in ensuring its continued success. As the Deputy is probably aware, a deed of trust has been agreed in principle with the company whose purpose will be to ensure that the airport is developed for the benefit of the west and of County Mayo in particular. Counsel appointed by the Attorney General's office have raised a number of technical queries on the draft deed of trust which are being considered by the Chief State Solicitor's office and the Attorney General's office.
Can the Minister explain why it has taken the Attorney General's office and the Chief State Solicitor's office more than three years to implement its provisions since it was originally drawn up in a very thorough manner?
All I can say is that the legal aspects of this deed of trust are being considered by the Attorney General's office and the Chief State Solicitor's office. Naturally it would be our wish, as it is the Deputy's, that that deed of trust be put in place. I hope that the legal technical difficulties will be cleared up soon.
In the meantime the Fianna Fáil finger is kept in the pie.
Will the Minister of State acknowledge that as well as the recent sacking of Ulick McEvaddy from the board of the airport company——
I would prefer if the Deputy did not refer to personalities outside the House. This is a privileged Assembly and those people have no redress against remarks or accusations made against them in the House.
I shall refrain from naming any personalities. Will the Minister of State confirm that a decision was made at Government level to discharge from the board the managing director of a Japanese synthetic firm in County Mayo and that had it not been for the unfortunate but timely death of Emperor Hirohito the said person would no longer be a member of the board of Horan International Airport?
I am not sure that the Deputy has put a question to me. I have replied to the questions raised earlier by the Deputy and Deputy Nealon. If the Deputy has a question to put to me I should like him to do so.
By way of further elaboration I should like to ask the Minister of State if a Government decision was taken to discharge a member of the board, namely, the managing director of a multi-national firm in County Mayo.
I would prefer if persons were not mentioned in such a manner as to be identifiable.
Will the Minister confirm that a deed of trust, taking out of the ownership of the ten directors who paid £1 for that ownership, was ready three years ago, that at that time no further questions remained to be answered and that some directors of the board persist in their claim that the airport is their property for their £1 investment and not the property of the State or the public? Will the Minister of State explain why one member of the board, who is not a member of Fianna Fáil, has been sacked and why an attempt has been made in recent weeks to sack another member of the board who is not a member of Fianna Fáil?
As I indicated, it is the prerogative of the Ministers for Finance and Tourism and Transport to appoint nominees to the board. I have outlined the position in regard to the deed of trust.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply by the Minister of State and in view of the difficulties Deputy Liam Lawlor got into this week about a conflict of interest which clearly arises in this case among Fianna Fáil members, I wish to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
