asked the Minister for Communications if he will outline the latest position regarding negotiations with the US Government on the possibility of introducing US customs-immigration pre-clearance facilities at Shannon airport; if the Government have considered the possible implications for Irish sovereignty of such a move; if legislation would be required to implement any such agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Customs Clearance at Shannon Airport.
1.
Consultations are continuing with the US authorities on a number of issues relating to the possibility of US immigration pre-inspection being established at Shannon airport.
Subject to a satisfactory outcome to these discussions, the Government will bring forward legislation to enable the pre-inspection facility to be established at Shannon. The matters raised by the Deputy have been taken into account and the House will have an opportunity of addressing these and other related issues when the legislation is put before it.
Will the Minister clarify whether customs clearance facilities as well as immigration pre-clearance will be involved? When does he expect negotiations to be completed?
There are a number of headings under which pre-clearance comes. One is customs and another is immigration but there are other aspects such as health pre-clearance and agricultural pre-clearance. The matter in question at present is immigration pre-clearance. I hope the discussions can be brought to a successful conclusion. If so, it will require legislation which I hope I will have the support of all sides in enacting before the summer recess.
Aer Lingus were expressing concern about possible additional costs as a result of delays. Have these concerns been dealt with? What has been the outcome of their representations on the issue?
It will be up the airlines themselves — Aer Lingus or any other airline — to participate in the pre-clearance scheme if it comes about. It will not be compulsory on any airline but the facility will be available at Shannon for those airlines which wish to take advantage of it.
On the question of sovereignty, the Minister says that legislation will be brought before the House. What areas of legislation have to be covered in order to permit this immigration pre-clearance to take place? What rights, if any, will be given in this legislation to the officials of the United States?
I would not wish to anticipate the legislation which would be necessary. All I can say now is that such legislation as is necessary to give statutory backing to pre-clearance will be introduced in this session.
Could the Minister say whether his Department are satisfied with the level of control already being exercised, for instance in regard to the Soviet facility at Shannon? Is there enough control exercised by the authorities in Shannon already?
I am absolutely satisfied that all necessary controls at Shannon and all other airports are in place.
Are we to take it from the Minister's reply that Aer Rianta and Aer Lingus are now in accord about this facility?
It does not arise. It is a matter for the board of Aer Lingus and the board of Aer Rianta to make prudent commercial decisions. That is what we appoint them for and it is the consistent policy which I have followed with all the State companies under my aegis since I became Minister, with very beneficial effects, as I have said repeatedly in this House. There is no question of any State company being forced to participate in a scheme which they do not think is commercially prudent. In this case the board of Aer Rianta believe that this is not only commercially prudent but that commercially it is potentially a very advantageous scheme. It will be a preliminary pilot scheme this year if it goes ahead. Decisions as to the continuation of this scheme in the future will be based on the success of the scheme this year.
Is it not true that originally Aer Rianta were very much in favour of it and Aer Lingus were equally strongly opposed to it?
It would be wrong to go into that in any great detail. The views of Aer Lingus have been very clearly expressed in respect of some aspects of pre-clearance. It is a matter for Aer Lingus to decide whether they should participate. I should say in fairness that the difficulties Aer Lingus would see with pre-clearance would be mainly in the area of customs pre-clearance which would delay flights, whereas immigration pre-clearance should not have that effect. It would be a matter for Aer Lingus to decide whether to participate in the immigration pre-clearance arrangements.
Will the customs be added on?
I do not think we should look too far ahead but that may be the case in the future.
Has any other country applied to the Minister or the Government for pre-clearance arrangements? Do pre-clearance arrangements already exist with any other country?
If the Deputy is asking whether any other country has approached Ireland, the answer is "no". We will be the first country in Europe to have pre-clearance arrangements with the US, provided the arrangements are finalised, as I hope they will be. That should give added advantage to Shannon which has been doing extremely well since 1982. This will give an added boost with great potential for the future, if it works in the way I think it could.
I take it that Ireland has no such arrangements with any other country.
Ireland has no other arrangements with any other country. The US has arrangements with Canada, Bermuda and the Bahamas. They are the only other countries which have pre-clearance arrangements. It will be a very significant achievement for Ireland to get in ahead of anybody else for pre-clearance. The hope is that it will increase the number of technical and refuelling stops, with obvious advantages for Shannon.