Claims Aer Rianta board members were given gifts of watches worth €9,000 may be probed by a corporate watchdog, it emerged today.

THE new Dublin Airport Authority appointed Oliver Cussen as its acting chief executive yesterday at its first board meeting.

THE incoming board of the Dublin Airport Authority will be dealt a blow this morning with a report by the aviation regulator recommending no immediate rise in airport charges.

Former Transport Minister Seamus Brennan received another blow tonight when he was severely criticised by the outgoing chairman of Aer Rianta.

THE new board of the Dublin Airport Authority has been asked by Transport Minister Séamus Brennan to consider incorporating a second independent terminal at the airport into its business plan.

OUTGOING Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon says the Government should not proceed with the break-up of the company.

Irish airports operator Aer Rianta reported a €20.2m profit in 2003 amid reports that the proposed break-up of the company may be postponed.

The Chairman of Aer Rianta has today said that Dublin Airport could be unsafe due to congestion within 12 months if there is not significant investment.

The Government would appear to have merely postponed an industrial relations doomsday for a week, if the Cabinet decides not abandon Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan’s mission to break up Aer Rianta.

Irish airports operator Aer Rianta saw a 44% dip in after-tax profit to €20m in 2003, according to the company's annual report.

AER RIANTA has chosen deputy chief executive Margaret Sweeney to succeed current chief John Burke who is stepping down at the end of this month.

Margaret Sweeney has been appointed as the new chief executive of Aer Rianta.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan is expected to press ahead with the appointment of three new Aer Rianta boards this Wednesday — despite the refusal of three current members to resign.

SEAMUS BRENNAN’s pintsized physical stature led to him being granted the moniker ‘The Jockey’ in Leinster House.

MINISTER for Transport Seamus Brennan is heading for a double clash with airport unions and the Aer Rianta board of directors next week.

Independent Airport Authorities are to be established for Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports, effectively ending Aer Rianta's role in the running of the country's airports.

Record numbers of passengers passed through Dublin airport last year, making it one of the fastest-growing capital city airports in Europe.

AFTER months of speculation, the €140 million redevelopment of Cork Airport was cleared for take-off yesterday when contracts were signed by Aer Rianta and the builders, Rocon.

The Director of Consumer Affairs is to seek legal advice on charges and duties imposed by airlines flying from Ireland to destinations in Britain and continental Europe.

RYANAIR are pocketing up to €27 million from airport charges and government taxes paid by passengers who don’t make their flights, it was claimed yesterday.

Airport operating company Aer Rianta has welcomed yesterday's news that an American airline is to begin two new services to Ireland next year.

Airports-operating company Aer Rianta tonight confirmed it had found no evidence that €5,000 of whiskey, brandy and cigars was delivered to Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan is considering legal action against the

TRANSPORT Minister Séamus Brennan last night said he wanted to get back to work after two separate inquiries cleared him of allegations that he had dodged a £5,000 brandy and cigar bill.

The enquiry by Aer Rianta into claims that a Government Minister left an unpaid bill amounting to £5000 for alcohol and cigars, has seen no evidence to substantiate the claims.

IT MUST be the longest hang-over in history, but whatever the outcome of the brandy and cigars episode, if there is one, there is a very important point which should not be lost on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, and about which there is absolutely no doubt.

TRANSPORT Minister Séamus Brennan has told senior officials in his department that he has no case to answer over allegations that a Government minister left an unpaid £5,000 bill for drink and cigars with Aer Rianta.

A POLITICAL row was brewing last night between new Transport Minister Seamus Brennan and Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon over the Government’s plans to totally reorganise the running of the country’s main airports.

DUBLIN Airport management yesterday announced a 50m euro plan to vastly improve low-fare passenger facilities within the next two years.

Speculation that Fianna Fail activist Dermot O’Leary may be forced to resign as an Aer Rianta director is growing tonight following a meeting between Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon and Public Enterprise Minister Mary O’Rourke.

The Minister for Public Enterprise is expected to meet with Aer Rianta chairman, Noel Hanlon, later today.

The row about Liam Lawlor’s preferential treatment at Dublin airport late last month is set to dominate the political agenda this week.

Dermot O’ Leary, the Fianna Fail activist at the centre of the Liam Lawlor airport controversy, could be sacked from the board of Aer Rianta if outraged opposition parties get their way.

The chairman of Aer Rianta, Noel Hanlon, says the special treatment afforded to Liam Lawlor at Dublin Airport on his return from New York was given on compassionate grounds.

Aer Rianta has said it will appeal the charges imposed on it yesterday by the Aviation Regulator.

The Government-backed Aer Rianta company that runs Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports, made a record pre-tax profit of £51m last year and catered for the greatest number of passengers in its history.