Employers are to be made responsible for drink and drug testing staff, Cabinet ministers are today set to discuss new measures to address cases where people do not pay water charges and Mourinho agrees a new Chelsea deal. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

The return of the Cork to Dublin air route is a long way away as there is no appetite among large companies for the service which would require a €1.5m annual subsidy to make it feasible, according to DAA chief executive Kevin Toland.

Cork Airport’s €200m debt is a “red herring” that has no impact on its day-to-day operations but which would be even greater today had the airport been responsible for it over the past number of years, rather than the DAA.

The CEO of the Shannon Group last year enjoyed a sharp jump in his overall remuneration package to €281,869, figures show.

Is the ‘will they, won’t they sell’ saga nearly over for Aer Lingus?

The head of Cork Airport has called for financial support to market the South-West as a tourist destination.

Cork County Council hopes to co-ordinate a major push to convince the transport minister and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to cut a deal with Cork Airport on its likely independence and to ease crippling debt.

Dublin Airport Authority has given more than 1,000 of its staff until March 15 to accept a lump sum payment after their defined benefit scheme was frozen at the end of last year.

Cork and Shannon airports suffered significant declines in their traffic movements last month, with Cork now down almost 12% this year compared to the first four months of 2014.

A topic of debate in this column and in other circles over the past year has been the performance of Cork Airport. 

Dublin Airport Authority has claimed a decision of the regulator related to airport charges will adversely impact its plans for a major commercial initiative known as the Dublin Airport City development.

More than 60 former aviation workers who face a cut of up to 60% to their pension entitlements yesterday staged a protest at Dublin Airport.

Ryanair is seeking a free deal in a fresh proposal to Government to deliver 5 million passengers over the next five years at Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

Diary June 9

The fact that Etihad’s energetic chief executive is showing interest in our one-time national carrier spells good news at a time when Ireland’s economy is in rebuilding mode, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

The Dublin Airport Authority has conceded for the first time that Shannon, which it controls, has a viable independent future.

Thousands of jobs can be created for Shannon Airport and the wider mid-west if the Government moves to establish a debt-free, independent Shannon Airport.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that his department paid international consultancy firm Booz Consultants €119,350 for its report on the future of Cork and Shannon airports.

Cork Airport is repeatedly stymied by the Dublin Airport Authority and it will never get transatlantic flights if it remains under DAA control, according to the Cork Business Association.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar and the wider Cabinet will make a decision in the next five weeks on the future of Shannon Airport, while decisions on the futures of Cork and Dublin airports will be long fingered until the end of the year.