Press release
Minister Ryan announces appointment of interim Chair of the Board of the Irish Aviation Authority
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Mr Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister for Transport is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Rose Hynes as Board Chair of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), on an interim basis. Ms. Hynes takes up the post at a pivotal juncture for the Company, which is undergoing important institutional reforms whilst also dealing with the impact of a very challenging operational environment.
Commenting on the appointment, Minister Ryan said: “Rose brings a wealth of aviation knowledge and boardroom experience to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), and her strong leadership will ensure that the IAA will embrace important reforms and emerge better equipped to serve Irish aviation into the future. Irish aviation is at a low ebb because of the impact of Covid-19, but it is one of the most robust sectors of our economy, and the companies and people who make up the industry make Ireland a genuine global leader.
Looking to the future, the reforms planned for the IAA will ensure that Ireland has a best practice regulatory regime to support the recovery and sustainable growth of the industry, which in turn will help drive our broader economic recovery.
I want to thank Rose for agreeing to take this difficult job on, at a particularly difficult time, and I look forward to working closely with her over the course of the next 12 months or so.”
Welcoming the appointment of Ms Hynes, the Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics, Ms Hildegarde Naughton, T.D. said: “Since her time with GPA, Rose has been a pioneer and an outstanding leader in Irish aviation, and I am pleased that she will continue to make a contribution to the development of the sector. Having a strong and resilient regulatory system is crucial for the long-term success of Irish aviation, and Rose has all of the attributes to ensure that is what we will have.”
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Additional information
Ms Hynes has been appointed directly by the Minister for Transport, with the agreement of the Government, to act as Chair on an interim basis to help guide the IAA’s regulatory reform process. The Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was published in November 2020, provides for significant institutional changes to how aviation is regulated in Ireland, and it is important that the IAA has an appropriately experienced and knowledgeable Chairperson to help guide the Board and direct the management team through the process.
In summary, the proposed legislation will separate the current regulatory and for-profit functions of the IAA. It will merge the aviation safety and security functions of the IAA with the economic and consumer protection function of the Commission for Aviation to create a “one-stop shop” aviation regulator. The legislation will also establish a new commercial State company to continue to provide commercial air navigation services in Irish airspace and at Irish airports. The legislation is a priority for the Minister and the Minister for State, and it is hoped to secure enactment during 2021.
Ms Hynes has extensive experience in the aviation industry. Ms Hynes was appointed as a board member of the Shannon Airport Authority in 2003. She headed up the Aviation Business Development Task Force that led to Shannon’s separation from the daa and was establishing chairperson of Shannon Airport and later, Shannon Group when it was formally established in 2014. Ms Hynes also oversaw the establishment of the Shannon Group as it merged the property portfolio of the former Shannon Development, now Shannon Commercial Properties and its tourism attractions operation, Shannon Heritage. Aside from the aviation experience, Ms Hynes also served time as Chair of Bord Gáis and later Ervia, during which the Company underwent significant institutional and commercial changes.
The Minister will initiate a formal process under the State Boards Appointment guidelines later in the year, which will be used to recruit a permanent Chair and Board members for the newly established IAA and also a Chair and Board members for the new commercial air navigation company.