'Gifts' for Aer Rianta chiefs wrong, says Ahern

The acceptance of €9,000 watches by former Aer Rianta chiefs was “inappropriate” the Taoiseach said tonight.

Bertie Ahern told the Dáil that he was not allowed to accept gifts of over €600 himself. He was responding to a question by Green Party TD Dan Boyle.

“Nobody in this House could receive such a gift and they all work very hard so quite frankly I don’t think it’s appropriate,” he said.

Former Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon presented the Cartier watches to selected retiring and former members of the board before he left office.

The watches were paid for with Aer Rianta funds and Mr Hanlon gave out four as well as accepting one for himself.

The State-owned air authority was put out of business last Thursday and replaced by three regional boards, including the Dublin Airport Authority.

Mr Hanlon reportedly refused to apologise for the move, describing it as an appropriate recognition of the exceptional work undertaken by those former members.