Dublin Airport Stakeholders Forum

Background

The purpose of Dublin Airport Stakeholders Forum (DASF) is to provide a medium for discussion on matters concerning the development and operation of the airport with airport stakeholders.

The Forum is an independent body established by the Board in October 2005 under the chairmanship of Dr. Danny O’Hare.

Members and the organisations that they represent are listed below.

Outcomes since establishment of the Forum

• The DASF met 8 times during the period October 2005 to December 2006.
• Of particular note was the work of the Forum in addressing the information gap on airport related activities. The initial focus of the meetings was on information exchange with presentations from the principal stakeholders at the airport. The presentations to Forum meetings were of the highest standard and played a pivotal role in helping to dispel misunderstandings about the work of the key regulatory agencies. (Presentations are available at www.dasf.ie).
• The Forum agreed to focus on transport, environmental concerns, and improving communication with the local community as the main focus of its work programme for 2006.
• On the issue of communication FDB engaged a researcher from DCU to assess the communications process between community groups and the main statutory stakeholders at the airport and see what could be done to enhance the overall level of communication. A copy of the DCU report, which is to be considered by the Forum in early 2007 can be accessed at www.dasf.ie.

Issues for 2007

The establishment of the Forum generated a high level of expectation in the wider community. However the initial enthusiasm seems to have waned somewhat and the continued absence of some representatives from the table would imply that they harbour doubts about the value of the Forum. In view of this it was decided to carry out a review of the Forum to see if it is meeting its stated objectives. The review is scheduled to take place in early 2007.

Forum Review

The FDB has appointed Mr. Chris O'Malley, Management Consultant, to review the operation of the DASF over the past twelve months. Mr. O'Malley has been asked to:

• Review the operation of the Forum to see if it is meeting its stated objectives

• Consider the need and scope for new approaches

• Identify critical gaps that need to be addressed

• Suggest procedural or other changes that may be necessary to make the Forum more relevant and effective

The Review Process will take the form of in-depth interviews with two representatives of each of the four broad sectors represented on the Forum (the statutory bodies, airport users, community representatives, local authorities). Following on from the interviews, Mr. O'Malley will survey all of the other participants in the Forum by a structured questionnaire - the design of which will be informed by the outcome of the interview process. The questionnaire will be sent out by post, with a stamped addressed envelope for return post! And finally, there will be an examination of the operations of similar fora elsewhere and an interview with Chair of the Forum, Dr. Danny O'Hare.

The end result will be, hopefully a document with a detailed analysis of the way the Forum does business as well as recommendation/s to improve the structure, the practices and procedures to make the Forum more meaningful and relevant, for the members, as well as meeting the requirements of the sponsoring bodies, Dublin Airport Authority and Fingal County Council. When one considers the wide range of knowledge, skills and competencies of the organisations and individuals on the Forum it is clear that, working well, the Forum has the capacity to influence the most sustainable possible development of the airport in the interests of all stakeholders which is why it is so important to try and come up with the best solution possible.

Communications

The FDB engage a post-graduate researcher, Mr. Frank Byrne from the School of Communications, DCU to assess the exisiting communication process between the community groups on the Forum and its principal stakeholders - Fingal County Council (FCC) and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

The issue arose at a Working Group meeting of the Forum in June 2006 when community representatives voiced concerns about developments at the airport and the inadequacy of the communication/consultation process in general.

Mr. Byrne's intervention took the form of meetings, with Public Relations and Community Relations personnel in the DAA and in FCC.

A copy of the Report, which is to be considered by the Forum in early 2007 can be accessed at

Meeting Schedule for 2007

28th February
30th May
26th September
28th November

The Forum meet quarterly and meetings are usually held in the CG Hotel (formerly the Great Southern Hotel), Dublin Airport at 6.00 p.m.

Dublin Airport Stakeholders Forum Action Template from "Strategy into Action 2006-2008"(34 KB)

For further information please contact George Curran by email or at (01) 890 6728.

Forum Membership

Pauline Dooley, Chambers of Commerce Ireland
Richard Copeland, Dublin Airport Users Council
Damian Drumm, Dublin City Council
Ciara Sugrue, Dublin Tourism
Richard Brady, Fingal County Council
Cllr. Anne Devitt, Fingal County Council
Cllr. Peggy Hamill, Fingal County Council
Cllr. David Healy, Fingal County Council
Mick Lorigan, Fingal County Council
Elaine O'Sullivan, Fingal Tourism
Robert Hilliard, Dublin Airport Authority
Cllr. Ciaran Byrne, Fingal Development Board
Reg McCabe, IBEC
Kevin McCarthy, IDA Ireland
Michael Landers, IMPACT
Flan Clune, Irish Tour Operators Federation
Liam Berney, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Michael Halpenny, SIPTU
Tony Lambert, Swords Fingal Chamber of Commerce
Angela Lawton, VOICE
Robert Mooney, Swords Community Council
Aebhric McGibney, Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Gordon McConnell, NorDubCo
Teresa Kavanagh, Portmarnock Community Association
Helena Merriman, St. Margarets Concerned Residents
Alice Rathcliffe, St. Margarets Community Group
Stephen Byrne, Malahide Community Council