The chairman of Dublin Port is Joe Burke, friend of Bertie Ahern. Frank McDonald profiles him
Joe Burke, one-time Fianna Fáil Dublin city councillor and friend of the Taoiseach, was appointed as chairman of Dublin Port Company (DPC) for
a five-year term from April 25th, 2002, by the then Minister for the Marine, Frank Fahey.
His appointment was among a raft of political postings to State bodies announced two weeks later, on the day after the Dáil was dissolved for the June 2002 general election - sparking charges of "cronyism" from Fine Gael and Labour.
It also emerged that Mr Burke had requested a place on DPC's board from the Taoiseach and that the Progressive Democrats had not been consulted in advance about his appointment. Tánaiste Mary Harney was only notified after it was made.
Mr Ahern defended his long-time friend's appointment, saying that the Donegal-born builder had "a number of attributes" including a "huge interest" in Dublin Port. "His wife's family has been very involved in the port, is from the port and lived in the port."
Between 1985 and 1991, Mr Burke was vice-chairman of the city council's planning committee and also a member of the old Dublin Port and Docks Board.
His own firm, J & H Burke & Son Builders Ltd, specialises in pub refurbishments.
In 1989, after developer Tom Gilmartin complained to Mr Ahern (who was then minister for labour) about his difficulties in progressing plans for a huge motorway shopping centre at Quarryvale, in west Dublin, it was Mr Burke who was sent to meet Mr Gilmartin.
Mr Ahern insisted in his evidence to the planning tribunal that this was the only meeting Mr Burke had with the developer, and he said the former councillor was "quite adamant that he did not ask him for or about a contribution to Fianna Fáil, at my behest or otherwise".
In his own evidence to the planning tribunal in June 2004, Mr Burke said Mr Gilmartin's belief that he was being "shafted" in tendering for a 68-acre site owned by Dublin Corporation was "completely unfounded"; he had checked on the progress of the bid.
He told the tribunal that the Luton-based developer had no reason to worry about being "gazumped". The tendering process was "correct and proper" and his bid had been accepted because it was the highest. It had also been approved without discussion.
Mr Burke became embroiled in the Sheedy controversy in 1999 when it emerged that he had employed the jailed architect Philip Sheedy, and visited him in Shelton Abbey after his conviction and sentencing for dangerous driving causing the death of Mrs Anne Ryan.
Mr Ahern told the Dáil that Mr Burke had made representations to him about securing Mr Sheedy's early release. He described the former councillor as a "good personal friend... When I meet him we usually talk about sport, sometimes about building and politics".
Mr Burke could not be contacted in relation to Dublin Port's deal with the Anna Livia consortium.
A spokeswoman for the company said it had nothing further to say beyond the statement it had already issued.