Joe Higgins
Ceist:191 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the plans, if any, she has to privatise Shannon Airport; and the procedure and timetable in this regard. [9834/99]
Written Answers. - Shannon Airport.
It would not be appropriate for me to speculate or comment on any future development in respect of Shannon Airport, or indeed of Aer Rianta itself, until I have given serious consideration to the report on the future strategic direction of Aer Rianta which was submitted to me by the board of the company last Thursday, 15 April. Ultimately, any decision about the future of Aer Rianta will be one for the Government to take following a recommendation by me.
The report was submitted in response to my request, last August, to the Chairman of Aer Rianta that the board carry out a review of the full range of development options for the company and reflect on the most appropriate direction for Aer Rianta in the years ahead. The need for continued development of the three State airports to meet the ever-growing demands of business and tourism is a key issue for the company in this review.
I look forward to studying the contents of the report and to hearing the views of all interested parties. To assist in this process, the Minister for Finance and I have jointly appointed a team of advisers, led by Warburg Dillon Read, to assist us both in our examination of the report and to advise on the full range of options for the company. The consultants are expected to take about two months to complete their work.