Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 4

Written Answers. - Great Southern Hotels.

Ivan Yates

Question:

118 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the outcome of her visits to the Great Southern Hotels; the steps, if any, she is taking to implement the views of the staff she met; and her views on a management and employee buyout of the company. [19339/99]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

The board of Aer Rianta submitted a report to me on 15 April last on the future strategic direction of the company in which it sought the authority to exit from the Great Southern Hotels in a manner determined through a consultative process with the relevant stakeholders.

In recent months I have met and consulted with the staff of all the Great Southern Hotels. I advised them that my main consideration would be to find the right future for the Great Southern Hotels in a way that will also be right for the staff and right for the tourism industry.

The board of Aer Rianta has retained Arthur Andersen consultants to examine all the options for the future of the Great Southern Hotels. It has also appointed Mr. Phil Flynn to act as facilitator with the trade unions as part of the process. This examination, which involves extensive consultations with all the stakeholders, including the management, staff and trade unions is expected to be completed shortly. Until that process has been completed and until I complete my own consideration of the matter, it would not be appropriate for me to speculate on what might be the best option for the group.