Brennan to insist new Aer Rianta CEO is temporary

Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan will insist that Aer Rianta's newly-appointed chief executive, Margaret Sweeney, is installed only on a temporary basis, according to reports.

Sweeney is currently the deputy chief executive and will take up her new position in January, following John Burke's retirement.

Brennan told Aer Rianta he will approve the appointment, announced yesterday, if Sweeney is given the title 'acting chief executive'.

This is to emphasise the temporary nature of the position, ahead of the company break-up.

If Brennan's plan to break Aer Rianta into three autonomous governing bodies for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports, goes on schedule, Sweeney's role could be defunct by spring of next year.

If this situation arises, it is not believed that Sweeney would be awarded a settlement.