O’Leary criticises state appointments

RYANAIR chief executive Michael O’Leary has criticised the Department of Transport’s choices for new executives at Dublin Airport Authority and Tourism Ireland.

Pádraig Ó Ríordáin, managing partner at law firm Arthur Cox (which advises Aer Lingus), has been appointed as chairman designate of the DAA. Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Müller has joined Tourism Ireland’s board.

While some industry sources have welcomed these senior appointments, Ryanair has accused the department of cronyism in its selections. A Ryanair statement said “these appointments show the Department of Transport’s unrelenting commitment to traffic declines and failure in Irish air transport and tourism”.