Batt O'Keeffe
Question:71 Mr. B. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if he has satisfied himself with the progress made by Aer Rianta in involving the private sector in joint ventures in this country. [6139/95]
Written Answers. - Aer Rianta Joint Ventures.
Aer Rianta's core business is the management and development of the State-owned airports at Dublin, Shannon and Cork. While the primary focus of the work of the company's board and management must continue to be on that core business, my Department has encouraged Aer Rianta to continue to seek out oportunities for alliances and business ventures involving a mix of public and private sector enterprise and finance. Any joint ventures must of course be on a commercial basis and protect both the State's and the company's interests.
Aer Rianta has concluded a number of joint ventures in Ireland. These include a joint venture company with Campbell Bewley, viz. Aer Rianta Bewley, which now operates the catering concession in Cork Airport. This joint venture also operates catering outlets at both London Stansted and Southampton Airports. In 1992 Aer Rianta established a joint venture with a US mail order firm, DM Management, to create new opportunities for the Shannon mail order operation. In 1993 a joint venture was formed between Aer Rianta and Europarks Limited to develop a site adjacent to Cork Airport as a business park.
More recently, Aer Rianta has had a substantial involvement in the development of a new company at Dublin Airport, Airport Baggage Services Limited, which provides porterage and left luggage facilities at the airport. This project arose out of Aer Rianta's participation in the social dialogue initiative and was undertaken in conjunction with the Ballymun job centre. The company currently employs 13 people from the Ballymun live register.
Finally I would point out that Aer Rianta's joint ventures in overseas markets have in some instances generated new business for Irish suppliers and contractors.