Brennan appoints heads of airports

The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan TD has announced the appointments of the Chairpersons of the independent and autonomous State-owned airport authorities for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

They are:

Dublin Airport Authority

Gary McGann, Chief Executive Officer of the Jefferson Smurfit Group and former Group Chief Executive Officer of Aer Lingus.

Shannon Airport Authority

Patrick Shanahan, Chief Executive of the Atlantic Technology Corridor, an industry-led alliance representing 272 technology companies employing approximately 20,000 people in the Clare, Limerick, Galway corridor. He is also a former Managing Director of Tellabs Ltd, Shannon.

Cork Airport Authority

Joe Gantly, Managing Director of Apple Computers in Europe. Apple employs 1,200 at its Operations Centre in Cork. He is also a Director and board member of the Cork Chamber of Commerce.

Minister Brennan said he would consult with the Chairpersons before announcing shortly the other members of the Authorities-designate for Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

The new authorities-designate are to begin meeting in September and commence their work on establishing Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports as fully independent and autonomous entities.

The Minister said the three Chairpersons will begin attending meetings of the outgoing Board of Aer Rianta from its next meeting.

Two of the Chairpersons will fill formal vacancies that currently exist on the Board of Aer Rianta and the other will be formally entitled to participate in the meetings.

Brennan said his Department had commenced drafting the legislation required to bring about the formal and legal establishment of the three new authorities.

A series of meetings have commenced with the trade unions to address any concerns the unions and their members may have.

He said he hoped to establish the three new independent authorities on a full legal standing in the first half of 2004.