Vol. 575 No. 1
47 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Transport further to the undertaking given by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 5 November 2003, when it is intended to make available to the trade unions in Aer Rianta the analysis of certain financial information presented to his Department by a company (details supplied) on 5 March 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27819/03]
172 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport when it is intended to make available to the trade unions in Aer Rianta the analysis of certain financial information presented to his Department by a company (details supplied) on 5 March 2003, in view of the undertaking given by the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann on 5 November 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27908/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 172 together.
In early March 2003 PricewaterhouseCoopers prepared certain financial information for the Department of Transport to assist the Department in giving policy advice to the Government concerning the programme for Government commitment that Shannon and Cork airports would have greater autonomy and independence. This was not a formal PricewaterhouseCoopers report as such, rather an analysis of detailed projections provided by Aer Rianta undertaken by PWC to assist in the process. PricewaterhouseCoopers did not express any opinion or conclusions on the financial information supplied by Aer Rianta. The report was highlighted as containing commercially sensitive information.
Having consulted with Aer Rianta, I have already made the contents of the report available to an economist nominated by the Aer Rianta unions. This was done on the understanding that the report continues to be commercially sensitive and is not for general release, and in order that the economist concerned would be enabled to brief senior trade union officials appropriately on the contents of the report.
Question No. 48 answered with Question No. 23.
