This article is from page 18 of the 2012-12-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
CHAIRPERSON of the Shannon Airport Business Development Task Force, Rose Hynes, confirmed yesterday that negotiations are at an advanced stage with Ryanair, but admitted that the airport should not be beholden to Michael O’Leary.
Speaking at last night’s meeting of Clare County Council, which was hosted by Shannon Airport, Ms Hynes confirmed that talks were ongoing with a number of carriers, including Ryanair.
The Bellharbour native, who is expected to head up the new company which will manage Shannon Airport and Shannon Development from January of 2013, also confirmed that the local property of Shannon Development, and its rental income, will be folded into the new company in July of next year.
“We have spoken to many airlines and Ryanair is one of them. Ryanair is the largest airline in Europe and they are right on our doorstep. We haven’t concluded a deal but we have to grow our numbers. We are talking to a number of airlines and the interest has been high. One does not want to be beholdant to Ryanair, that is a dangerous place to be.
“Before July 1 of 2013, the lands of Shannon Airport and their rental income will transfer to the new company. The airport is starting off with funding facilities available to us. I’m not going to get into the numbers but there will be openings for us.”
Responding to questions from councillors at last night’s meeting, Ms Hynes also confirmed that keeping Aer Rianta International as part of the new Shannon Airport organisation was never within the remit of the Task Force.
“It wasn’t a negotiation – the government own all the assets and it [Aer Rianta International] was not on the table. It wasn’t a case of trading one thing off against another,” she said.
Current Director of Shannon Airport, Mary Considine said that the rights of staff at the airport will be protected under the transfer.
“We have gone through a period of consultation with ICTU but we have also been talking to people here on the ground – they are the people who will ultimately deliver this change for us and we need to be conscience of that,” she said.
“There are some worries among staff members but it is important to stress that their terms and conditions will be the same after the separation.”