Vol. 513 No. 1
203 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Public Enterprise when she will make a decision regarding the Great Southern Hotels Group in view of the fact that staff are anxious regarding their future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1660/00]
Over the summer months I met and consulted with the staff of all the Great Southern Hotels. More recently, I have had meetings with trade union groups and with local representatives to hear their views. In each case, I advised them that my main consideration would be, of course, 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 Irish tourism industry.
I have recently received the report of the advisers appointed by myself and the Minister for Finance to examine and evaluate the full range of recommendations made to me by the board of Aer Rianta in respect of the company's future strategic direction, including their proposals in respect of the Great Southern Hotels Group.
I am carefully considering the recommendations in that report, and I intend to present it to Government and publish it shortly. Subsequently, I will consult with my Cabinet colleagues in the normal way and then report to Government in due course with specific recommendations in regard to the future of Aer Rianta including proposals in relation to the Great Southern Hotels Group. It would not be appropriate for me at this point to speculate on what those recommendations will be.
