SIPTU claim minister has put Aer Rianta and Shannon up for grabs

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan will come under intense pressure to reveal his plans for the country’s three main airports when he visits Shannon tomorrow.

Speculation is rife that the Minister intends to break up Aer Rianta and give Cork and Shannon airports independent management boards or set up a new State agency to run the Shannon region.

The country’s biggest union, SIPTU, upped the ante on Minister Brennan yesterday by claiming Aer Rianta is up for grabs and called on him to reveal his plans.

SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Noel Dowling said: “The word amongst the financial congregation is that Aer Rianta is in play, or in layman’s language up for grabs.”

SIPTU, is in favour of a three airport strategy under Aer Rianta’s control, because it says international experience shows it does not work.

And if Cork were to remain within the Aer Rianta Group, the threat to an independent Shannon would be even greater.

But Minister Brennan’s spokesman said no final decision has yet been made on the future of the country’s three airports.

The Minister is going to Shannon tomorrow to meet with all the local groups and take soundings on what they want for the airport, his spokesman said.

The groups include Shannon Partnership, Shannon and District Chamber of Commerce and Shannon Development.

Mr Brennan will make a similar visit to Cork Airport before any final decision is made, his spokesman added.