Tag Archives: 2013

Shannon representatives were before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee this afternoon where they were quizzed about the Shannon Development Accounts for 2013. Much of the session centred on a property transaction in Co Limerick as Deputy Joe Costello and Committee Chairman Deputy John McGuinness grilled them about Shannon Development’s sale of two units to Munster Packaging Ltd. Deputy Costello claimed that one of the conditions of sale was that the units be solely used for the purchaser’s business and not utilised for speculation. However he said that he understood that since the sale an individual had offered original tenants HL Commodity Foods a 13 year lease. He claimed that on the face of it, there seemed to have been “flagrant abuse” of the condition that the premises only be for Munster Packaging use. Ray O’Driscoll, Managing Director of Shannon Commercial Properties said that HL Commodity Foods had made enquiries about acquiring the premises in 2006 and 2008 but had opted …

STAFF costs at Shannon Airport in 2013 came to €17.17 million last year according to the accounts, with an average cost per employee of slightly over €65,000. Wages and salaries came to €14,312,000, social welfare costs were €1,469,000, pension costs were €1,076,000 and other staff costs came to €315,000. The average number of weekly employees during the year was 263, 200 working in operations and administration and 63 on commercial. In the section on director’s remuneration it states that €87,685 was paid in fees to them. Shannon Airport Chair Rose Hynes received the largest amount, which was €20,688. Under the same heading it states that the amount paid for other emoluments came to €236,458. With regard to payment of Shannon Airport Authority Chief Executive Neil Pakey, the accounts state that his basic salary for a single year is €175,000. “Total remuneration in respect of the Chief Executive Officer from the date he commenced employment with the Company, being June 10, …

THE Gathering has come to a close and one of the last events held in Clare was at Wolfe Tones GAA Club on December 28 when those involved in the club’s juvenile section in 1988 reunited. 1988 was an amazing year for the club, with huge success on the field, as it won every underage A title in Clare in both hurling and football. The club’s second teams also won a number of titles, while the local camogie club, closely associated with Wolfe Tones also tasted success. Kathy Hogan had been involved with preparations for the event and said she was very pleased with how it had gone. “People met up who hadn’t seen each other for ages and there were people home who hadn’t been back for years. It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.” The Lohan brothers, who would win All Irelands with Clare seven years later were involved in Wolfe Tones underage sides 1n 1988 while Alan Cunningham and …

SHANNON Airport is on the brink of turning a profit for 2013, as its recovery continues. “We’re not into forecasting but, at the end of this year, we expect to turn a modest profit or break-even which, for the airport, is a very good result on a standalone basis,” Shannon Group chair, Rose Hynes, said on Wednesday. She was speaking after the announcement of a new Shannon-Bristol route from Aer Lingus Regional and increases in capacity on its Birmingham and Manchester routes. Not so long ago, Shannon was losing well over €100,000 per week and there were concerns about its sustainability after separation from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). However, there have been a slew of positive announcements on future services in the second half of this year, while traffic has been growing for some months. Ms Hynes said the decision of Government to abolish the travel tax has been a major help to recovery. “It was significant in prompting …

FIGURES published by the parish show that 634 people have died in Shannon since 2000, with 2013 the year when most deaths were recorded. Speaking to The Clare Champion, parish priest Father Tom Ryan said that the town’s demographics are maturing. “Maybe 30 years ago there would be ten baptisms every Sunday, but now the town is maturing and it’s an ageing town. That’s reflected in the amount of grandparents in the town and even great grandparents which wouldn’t have been there in the past.” It’s not that long ago since the cemetery was put in place at Illaunmanagh. “The cemetery opened in 2001 and a number of years later an extension was sought for it and that’s filling up as well, but there’s still plenty of space available.” The parish was founded on Christmas Eve of 1967, although people had been living in the town for some years before that, as part of the Newmarket on Fergus parish. Number …

SHANNON Airport needs to be able to get access to €100 million in funding to be competitive, its CEO Neil Pakey claimed at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport on Wednesday. He said the target of achieving 2.5 million passengers by 2021 is very possible. Elements of Shannon’s cost base are “very high”, he claimed and he indicated that management will have to work with the trade unions at the airport to align them with competitors. Shannon was discussed by various interests at Wednesday morning’s meeting, with Senators Martin Conway and Tony Mulcahy and Deputies Timmy Dooley and Pat Breen present, as well as representatives of SIPTU, Kevin Thompstone of Shannon Chamber and Clare county manager, Tom Coughlan, among others. In his presentation to the meeting, Mr Pakey said Shannon needs access to €100m. “We recommend that the borrowing facility limit for the group be set at €100m to allow Shannon Group to deliver on the recommendations …

DAVY Fitzgerald’s tactics haven’t always been well received, but on Saturday evening he was vindicated and when he met the media under the Hogan Stand he said he wouldn’t be settling scores. “There’s been a tough few years from my point of view, there’s been a lot of stick and different things. God, does this feel good. Am I going to say anything about anyone who was cutting the back off me or saying stuff, nah, I don’t think I need to. I’m just so happy for the lads, so happy for them guys. This is all down to them, they’re a fantastic, fantastic bunch.” The decision to bring in Shane O’Donnell worked in a way that no one could have foreseen, with the teenager rattling the net three times within 20 minutes. Fitzgerald said they had kept the pressure off O’Donnell by letting him think the team that was named in the middle of last week would be the …