Brennan rejects review of Aer Rianta break-up

The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, has rejected a request from Aer Rianta trade unions for an independent review of the feasibility of the break-up of the State company.

In a letter to the general secretary of the ICTU, Mr David Begg, Mr Brennan said he had "reflected at length" on the proposal but was not convinced of its appropriateness "given that I am now charged with implementing Government policy as recently settled".

There would be no review of the decision. "The Government has made its decision in relation to the restructuring of Aer Rianta and my Department is now charged with implementing it as soon as possible."

"I believe that both unions and my Department are well capable of engaging in a meaningful and businesslike manner on the issues of concern and of resolving them as far as possible."

"As to the Shannon stop issue, discussions between all the relevant interests should continue, against the backdrop of the emerging international picture."

Mr Brennan said he had already made clear that he has considered and rejected the option of full or partial privatisation before he took his proposals to Government.

He said he has not changed his position since.

He said that over the "next few weeks" he would be appointing more members of the boards-designate for Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports. In the same time frame, he said, he would be bringing forward proposals for legislation he hoped to see enacted by the end of the year.

He saw no reason why the tenure and terms and conditions of employment, including pension entitlements, of Aer Rianta workers would be diminished by the changes he envisaged "and in my view the legislation should reflect that position".

The Minister said he was concerned that a meeting held earlier this month between the unions and senior officials in his Department had not made more progress.

The regional secretary of the TEEU, Mr Arthur Hall, said Mr Brennan had "completely failed" to address issues of concern to his members in the letter. He said the decision not to accede to the request for an independent review of the break up was "a slap in the face to the trade union movement".

He called for a business plan to justify breaking up the State company. "Mr Brennan's dogged plan for the destruction of Aer Rianta makes no sense in the absence of a business plan, except in the context of pandering to powerful aviation interests."