Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 1

Written Answers. - Appointments to State Boards.

Louis J. Belton

Question:

71 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the names of the persons she has nominated to the board of Aer Rianta; the experience of each in the management of aviation business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29712/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke):

The names of the persons who I have nominated and appointed to the board of Aer Rianta, together with a brief description of their main areas of expertise, is as follows:

Dermot O'Leary(Appointed to boardon 13 November 1997)	Managing Director, Crane Hire Ltd;Managing Director, Dublin CityCrane Hire Ltd;
	Former Chairman of CIE.
Mr. Tadhg O'Donoghue	Senior Tax Partner,
(Appointed to board on	PricewaterhouseCoopers;
13 November 1997)	Director, US Chamber of Commerce in Ireland;
	Council Member, Irish Management Institute;Member, Institute of Taxation;Former Chairman of BIM;Currently Chairman of ESB.
Mr. Liam Meade(Appointed to boardon 2 April 2001)	Vice-President, Marketing, Shannon Engine Support Ltd;Former Executive Vice-President, GPA Group Ltd;
Ms Freda Hayes(Appointed to boardon 13 April 2001)	Chief Executive, Blarney Woollen Mills;Director/Chairperson, South Cork Enterprise Board;Director, IBEC;Director, Cork Business Association

I also re-appointed Mr. Noel Hanlon as chairman of the board of Aer Rianta on 1 October 1999. Mr. Hanlon is a former chairman of Semperit (Ireland) Limited and a former chairman of the VHI.

The position in relation to the appointment of the chief executive to the board of Aer Rianta is governed by section 29(5) of the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Act, 1998. Pursuant to section 29(5) of that Act, the chief executive is,ex-officio, a director of the company. The current chief executive, Mr. John Burke, was appointed to the board on 22 September 1998. The three worker directors on the board were appointed on 1 January 1998 following their election in accordance with the provisions of the Worker Participation (State Enterprises) Acts, 1977 to 1993. I am satisfied that the board of Aer Rianta has a broad range of experience and expertise available to it, including business and aviation expertise.