A new high level stakeholder body to boost the development of Cork Airport held its inaugural meeting at the airport today.
The Cork Airport Development Council (CADC) is aimed at bringing together key stakeholders in the region, who will work with Cork Airport management to help expand the business.
The Minister Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varakdar welcomed the formation of the CADC. “The establishment of the Cork Airport Development Council is a welcome development and evidence of the strong commitment in the region to the success of the airport.”
“I believe the Council will be an important voice for stakeholders in the region, and will allow strong local engagement in airport operations. I hope it will allow a more coordinated approach to developing the airport and seeing passenger numbers grow again. A successful Cork Airport will benefit the entire region and I would like to thank the members of the Council for their time and wish them every success with their efforts.”
The new body is chaired by daa Chairman Pádraig Ó Ríordáin and comprises senior representatives from the tourism, and business sectors. “The combined strength and experience of the members of this new body will help us bring Cork Airport to the next level for the benefit of the entire region,” Mr Ó Ríordáin said.
“Cork Airport is the second busiest airport in the country, with 2.3 million passengers, more than 50 routes to destinations in Britain and continental Europe and direct connectivity to the major European hubs of London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol, and Paris Charles de Gaulle,” according to Mr Ó Ríordáin.
“Cork Airport is an excellent asset for the Southern region and a key enabler for inbound tourist visitors to counties Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Kerry, Limerick and Clare. The region is not getting as many overseas visitors as it should, and we intend to work with tourism agencies and stakeholders to help grow that business for the benefit of all players within the region. More than 1.2 million people live within a 90 minute drive of Cork Airport and the connectivity that the airport delivers is essential for the future growth of the region.””
The CADC will provide a forum for senior stakeholders from a range of sectoral and geographic backgrounds who have an interest in the development of Cork Airport to engage with management at the airport, and to help contribute to traffic and route growth.
The council comprises nine external members - representing organisations such as Fáilte Ireland, the Cork Chamber of Commerce, EMC, the Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce and Ballydoyle Stables in Co Tipperary - and six members from Cork Airport/daa. Further appointments may be made to the Council in due course.
The 15 members of the Cork Airport Development Committee are as follows:
Pádraig Ó Ríordáin, Chairman (Chairman daa, Corporate Partner, Arthur Cox)
Fiona Buckley, (Head of Operations, Fáilte Ireland)
Conor Healy, (Chief Executive, Cork Chamber of Commerce)
Niall MacCarthy (Managing Director, Cork Airport)
John Mullins, (Chairman, Port of Cork)
Dr Michael Murphy, (President, University College Cork)
Eric Nolan (Director, daa)
Anne-Marie O’Brien, (Ballydoyle Racing Stables)
Emma O’Brien, (Director and Vice Chairman of the Clonakilty Chamber of Commerce);
Joe O’Flynn, (General Secretary, SIPTU)
Ann-Marie O’Sullivan (Director daa, Director of H+A Marketing + PR)
Bob Savage, (Vice President and General Manager, EMC, Cork)
Kevin Toland, (Chief Executive, daa)
Jim Woulfe, (Chief Executive, Dairygold Co-operative Society)
Gerry Walsh (Director daa, Director Spruce Consulting)