Aer Rianta Board

Mr Noel Hanlon, chairman. First appointed in October 1994, his term ends in September. He is also chairman of subsidiary companies Aer Rianta International and Great Southern Hotels and is chairman of the VHI. His other directorships include being deputy chairman of Birmingham airport and a director of ARI/NatWest Ventures. Mr Hanlon is from Longford and is a longtime friend of former Taoiseach, Mr Albert Reynolds.

Mr John Burke is chief executive. He was appointed in September 1998.

Mr Noel Fox, appointed in 1992, and reappointed for a second term in March 1996. He is the senior partner with accountants Oliver Freaney and he is also a director of the VHI. Mr Fox has served on a number of State boards appointed initially by former Taoiseach Mr Haughey in the 1970s. During the McCracken tribunal it emerged he was the link between Mr Des Traynor and Mr Ben Dunne when Mr Traynor came looking for money for Mr Haughey. Mr Fox is a financial adviser to the Dunnes Stores group, a trustee of the Dunnes Settlement Trust, and a close personal friend of Mr Dunne.

Mr Dermot O'Leary, appointed in 1992, and reappointed for a second term in 1997. He is managing director of Crane Hire and Dublin City Crane Hire. He has strong Fianna Fail links and is a former chairman of CIE. He resigned from that position at the request of former transport minister, Mr Michael Lowry, in 1995.

Mr Tony Smurfit, appointed in 1996. He is a director of the Jefferson Smurfit Group and chief executive of Smurfit France.

Mr Tadhg O'Donoghue, appointed in 1997. He is a director of the US Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, a council member of the Irish Management Institute and a member of the Institute of Taxation. He is also a senior tax partner with accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Ms Rita Bergin, appointed in 1998. She is a worker director and works at Dublin airport.

Mr Peter Dunne, joined the board in 1995 and was re-elected in 1998. He is a worker director and is employed at the maintenance department of Dublin airport.

Mr Pat Fitzgerald, appointed in 1994 and reappointed in 1998. He is a worker director and works in the catering department at Shannon airport.