Department of Transport outlines three options for Shannon Chair appointment
- Minister must engage with stakeholders in region
- Critical to get it right this time around
Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has received confirmation from Department of Transport officials that three options are on the table for how the process of appointing a new chair of Shannon Group will proceed.
Option 1 would see the second placed candidate appointed; option 2 would involve starting the entire process again while the third and final option would be to engage with stakeholders in the region before proceeding.
“I have strongly made the point to the Minister and to his officials at today’s Oireachtas Transport Committee meeting that we need to go down the route of the third option here,” said Deputy Crowe.
“Since last week’s fiasco, I’ve been contacted by a lot of stakeholders in Clare and right around the region, who are anxious that things slow down a little bit in terms of the appointment of a replacement.
“The role of Shannon Airport is pivotal and if we get this wrong again, it sets the airport back significantly when it is facing its greatest crisis.
“We desperately need somebody in place who understands the importance of Shannon, who gets aviation and who can drive on and promote the airport and get it back on an upward trajectory.
“It’s important too to remember that this individual will have a lot more responsibility than just managing the airport – this job will cover the siezeable commercial property portfolio that Shannon Group commands and also the heritage sites.
“I will again be encouraging Minister Eamon Ryan to consult with elected representatives, the business leaders in the region, our tourism experts and the chambers of commerce about how to proceed.
“All of these stakeholders have best interests of Shannon at heart and it would be good for him to do temperature check in the Midwest region as to what kind of individual those on the ground want to see appointed.”
-ENDS-
