Fianna Fáil’s Darragh O’Brien has been named Transport Minister – incorporating outbound tourism concerns – in the new Government.
The former Minister for Housing succeeds former Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan in the brief, which also includes Climate, Environment and Energy.
Mr O’Brien – more used to criticism about Ireland’s housing crisis, in recent years – will now come under scrutiny Government action on issues such as the Dublin Airport passenger cap, the future of Waterford Airport, boosting business at the other regional airports and improving Ireland’s performance on climate action targets.
Just this week, Ryanair airline boss Eddie Wilson stressed that the new Government – and Transport Minister, in particular – must make the permanent abolishment of the passenger limit at Dublin Airport the number one priority, stating that the current temporary freeze on the cap is the main reason the airline can grow operations in Dublin this summer.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Peter Burke has become the new Tourism Minister, which largely focuses on inbound tourism. Mr Burke remains in his role as Enterprise and Employment Minister, but inherits Tourism as it moves department.
