There are two vacancies for non-executive directors on the nine-member Aer Rianta board after the five-year terms of office of Mr Dermot O'Leary and the Mr Tadhg O'Donoghue ended a fortnight ago.
Political sources say it was not expected that Mr O'Leary would be reappointed as non-executive director. When asked yesterday whether he wished to be reappointed, he said the matter did not arise because of his long service.
It is not known whether Mr O'Donoghue will be reappointed. As chairman of the ESB, however, the retired KPMG accountant is already preoccupied with semi-State business.
The airport company has been chaired by Mr Noel Hanlon since 1994. An influential figure, he does not lightly tolerate challenges to the company. Though a part-time non-executive chairman, he is very active in the company. He previously chaired the VHI.
The Aer Rianta chief executive, Mr John Burke, was appointed in 1998, some five years after the alleged bill for drink and cigars went unpaid. His team proposed the flotation plan rejected two years ago by the Government.
Other non-executive directors include Mr Liam Meade, a vice-president at the aircraft leasing business Shannon Engine Support Ltd. Another is Ms Freda Hayes, chief executive of the Blarney Woollen Mills group.
There are three worker directors - Mr Peter Dunne, Mr Pat Fitzgerald and Mr Cecil Brett.