Jackie Healy-Rae
Question:342 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the position in regard to the proposed sale by Aer Rianta of a hotel (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24289/02]
Written Answers. - Sale of Hotel.
The situation regarding the issues raised in this question was addressed in detail on my behalf by the Minister of State, Deputy McDaid, in reply to a motion on the Adjournment on Tuesday, 26 November 2002.
As outlined by my colleague in that debate, the board of Aer Rianta accepted and endorsed the decision by the Great Southern Hotels Group to dispose of the Torc Hotel in Killarney. The Great Southern Hotels Group is committed to accommodating the staff of the Torc either at the old Killarney Great Southern Hotel or with an agreed voluntary redundancy package. I do not propose to intervene in this matter.
There are no proposals at this time for the sale of any other hotel in the Great Southern Hotels Group. I intend to revisit the question of the appropriate ownership of the Great Southern Hotels Group in due course. For the time being, however, my priorities in aviation policy derive from An Agreed Programme for Government.