Airport authority to appoint chief executive from shortlist in few weeks

DUBLIN AIRPORT Authority chairman Pádraig Ó Ríordáin hopes to appoint a new chief executive in the “next few weeks”.

It is understood that the DAA has drawn up a shortlist of candidates, although Mr Ó Ríordáin declined to say how many people were under consideration. He also declined to say if any internal candidates were being considered.

Mr Ó Ríordáin confirmed that the position came with a seven-year contract and a salary, in line with Government policy, of €250,000. No bonuses would be on offer to the successful candidate, he added.

“They [the Government] may look at that in due course, not just in relation to the DAA but generally speaking, but it’s not in existence at the moment,” Mr Ó Ríordáin said of a bonus scheme for the chief executive.

The DAA chairman restated his view the remuneration is below industry norms. “If you look at the market, the levels are much higher than that. It is a constriction undoubtedly on the recruitment process.”

The position is being filled on an interim basis by deputy chief executive Oliver Cussen after Declan Collier left in March for a position at London City Airport.

The DAA’s 2011 annual report, published yesterday, shows that Mr Collier was paid €522,500 in total remuneration last year compared with €535,400 in 2010. His salary in 2011 was €303,000.

The 2010 figure excludes a €77,100 bonus that Mr Collier agreed to waive last year following a high-profile standoff with Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar.

In relation to the recent EU security audit at Dublin airport, which identified two issues that needed to be rectified, Mr Ó Ríordáin said the procedure was “as robust for all practical purposes as it always has been”.