Aer Rianta executive to step down

The chief executive of Aer Rianta announced tonight she is to step down having failed to secure agreement on her role in the future Dublin Airport Authority.

Margaret Sweeney will quit when the state-owned air authority ceases to exist on September 30. It will be replaced by three regional boards.

She notified the Aer Rianta board of her decision to resign following a prolonged period during which the Department of Transport failed to clarify her future role on the new authority.

It is understood she would have had to apply for her own job in order to be reinstated.

The board accepted her decision to stand down and both parties have agreed terms. Ms Sweeney agreed to remain in her position for a transitional period to facilitate the new incoming board of the Dublin Airport Authority, which will start work on October 1.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transport has invited the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to nominate 12 people to fill interim worker/director positions on new boards in Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

So far the unions have failed to reach agreement. A Siptu spokesman refused to comment on the discussions but said talks would resume next week.