Businessman Joe Burke, a friend of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, is seeking another term as chairman of the Dublin Port Company after his first term in office came to an end yesterday, according to informed sources.
Mr Burke's pub renovation firm, J&H Burke and Son Builders Ltd, is in liquidation with debts of €1.66-€2 million. Creditors include the Revenue, which is owed €276,872, and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which is owed €60,748.
Mr Burke has never said publicly whether he wants to serve another term as chairman of the State's largest port but informed sources say he has made it clear in recent times that he wishes to continue in the job.
The appointment falls to Minister for Transport Martin Cullen in the first instance but Mr Ahern has the ultimate veto over all appointments to public bodies.
Mr Burke is a long-standing friend and associate of the Taoiseach. He was one of the people who gave money to Mr Ahern in 1993/94 when he was minister for finance. He is also a trustee of the Fianna Fáil constituency building, St Luke's, in Drumcondra, Dublin, which serves as Mr Ahern's political base.
Mr Cullen's spokeswoman acknow-ledged that Mr Burke's term in office and that of other board directors lapsed yesterday and indicated that a decision would be made soon.
A spokesman for the port company said it received no information from Mr Cullen's office. "Dublin Port hasn't been given any notification one way or the other from the department."
