Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 Feb 1950

Vol. 119 No. 4

Air Navigation and Transport Bill, 1949—Report and Final Stages.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce (Mr. Cosgrave)

I move:—

In page 4, Section 6 (1), to delete line 11 and substitute the following:—

(c) any purpose related to the development of civil aviation where such development affects an aerodrome which the Minister or a local authority has established or is about to establish or affects any land adjacent to such aerodrome.

This amendment is to meet a point raised by Deputy Lemass on the Committee Stage and it confines the purposes of acquisition to land adjacent to an aerodrome or land on which the Minister proposes to establish an aerodrome and, I think, meets the objection made. Under Section 41 of the Principal Act, the Minister is empowered compulsorily to acquire any land, and Section 36 of that Act defines the purposes for which the Minister may acquire the land. The purposes set out in Section 36 relate to the necessary measures for the safety of aircraft using aerodromes and Section 6 (2) of this Bill is intended to make clear that these purposes include and always included the establishment of an aerodrome. As the section was originally drafted the Deputy feared that power was being taken to interfere with property distant from an aerodrome and which might not be required. I think this amendment makes the matter quite clear.

Amendment agreed to.

Bill reported with amendment.

Question—"That the Bill, as amended, be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Mr. P.D. Lehane

When discussing the Bill yesterday in Committee the Parliamentary Secretary undertook to deal with certain services for airports and said that he would deal with the matter on the Fifth Stage.

Mr. Lemass

The point to which Deputy Lehane refers relates to a privately-owned aerodrome in Cork. Some time ago a project to establish a State-owned aerodrome in the vicinity of Cork City and the inauguration of regular air services from Cork across the Channel was considered. There was, however, considerable difficulty in locating near the City of Cork a suitable site for an aerodrome, a site which had the necessary geographical facilities and which was free from meteorological objection. In order to settle the question of a site, meteorological investigations, which it was estimated would take about three years, were inaugurated. I would like to know if the Parliamentary Secretary can tell me from the information available now whether these meteorological investigations have revealed in the vicinity of Cork City any site suitable for an aerodrome from which regular passenger services might operate and if the idea of establishing a State aerodrome in Cork and the inauguration, through Aer Lingus, of services from Cork is being taken up.

Mr. McGrath

I should like to ask if any application has been made for services from Cork across Channel by any company whose grounds are used for chartered trips.

Mr. Cosgrave

The position about the meteorological stations is that two stations were established, one in Midleton and another at Farmers' Cross. Neither of them, however, proved very suitable, but of the two the more suitable was the one at Midleton. At the moment it is contemplated establishing a fully-manned station at Roche's Point to replace the existing station at Midleton and the matter to which Deputy Hickey referred is governed by that.

The position with regard to Farmers' Cross aerodrome is that an application was made by a company to operate scheduled services from Cork to Cardiff. The application was supported by the Cork Airways Company, which, I understand, runs the Cork airfield, and also by representations by Deputy Hickey and, I think, other Deputies. The application was refused on the grounds that the Anglo-Irish Air Agreement of 1946 did not contemplate that airlines other than Aer Lingus should operate scheduled services between the two countries. Further correspondence took place between the Cork Airways Company and the Department, and the company was informed that in view of the international requirements governing meteorological protection and the fact that it was not possible to meet these requirements at the Cork airfield, together with the difficulties which I mentioned about the meteorological station at Ballygarvan or Midleton, it was impossible to provide the services necessary at the Cork airfield. It has been decided now, after examination of both places, Midleton and Ballygarvan, to proceed with the proposal to establish a permanent station at Roche's Point.

I should say in that connection that, as Deputy Lemass no doubt knows, it is very difficult to get sufficient personnel to man these stations or to get sufficient meteorologists in the country. In fact, in a number of instances, personnel from outside had to be recruited. For these reasons it has not been found possible to assent to the application from the Cork Airways Company to run services from the aerodrome at Farmers' Cross.

Mr. Lynch

Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he means by a permanent station, a permanent station for meteorological purposes, and, if so, if that would imply that any aerodrome to be established in or about Cork would have to be at Roche's Point?

Mr. Cosgrave

That is a separate matter. The proposal to establish a permanent station has not reached finality yet. The indications are that the Roche's Point site is the most suitable one in that area.

Mr. Lynch

Whatever about the meteorological point of view, Roche's Point is one of the most difficult places of access in the whole County of Cork, from the city or from any other point.

Mr. Cosgrave

It is not intended to establish an airport there. International requirements lay down that certain minimum facilities must be provided, and in order to provide them a suitable site has to be secured.

Mr. P.D. Lehane

Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if this station at Roche's Point will provide a service for an aerodrome either at Midleton or Farmers' Cross, Ballygarvan?

Mr. Cosgrave

I cannot say at this stage.

Captain Cowan

It was suggested on the Second Reading that the Parliamentary Secretary should take an early opportunity of informing the Dáil what the policy of the Government is in regard to air development here, and whether the Government have in mind the opening up of aerodromes in the West, the North-West, the South and the South-East, so that all parts of the country would be connected by air services.

An Ceann Comhairle

The Deputy, I am sure, realises that on the Fifth Stage we discuss what is in the Bill, while on the Second Stage we discuss what Deputies would relevantly desire to see in the Bill?

Captain Cowan

Yes, sir. I understand we are now giving extensive powers in regard to the acquisition of land in the vicinity of aerodromes and it may be that the powers that are now enshrined in legislation may be used for the purpose of establishing additional aerodromes. The only point I want to make in regard to it is that the country would welcome an early indication from the Government of their intentions in regard to those matters.

I mentioned on the Second Stage that there was a certain public uneasiness with regard to the possible use of our aerodromes by foreign powers in the event of war. I think the Parliamentary Secretary should take an early opportunity of allaying any public uneasiness there may be in that respect and we would like an assurance that whatever development is necessary to establish our own air lines, none of the powers given by the Dáil will be utilised for the purpose of creating large aerodromes that might be used for purposes of war by foreign nations in the event of an emergency. Further, in the event of such an emergency, we should like to feel that the full resources of the State will be utilised to protect these aerodromes against any possible invasion by a foreign air force.

These are the only points I would like to mention. I know they are creating some public uneasiness and I would very much like to have that uneasiness set at rest by a clear and positive declaration from the Government, through the Parliamentary Secretary.

Mr. Hickey

I have heard the Parliamentary Secretary and Deputies on the opposite benches, when they were in the last Government, eulogising private enterprise. We have an airfield in Cork which was prepared by private enterprise and I must say the encouragement given by this Government to that project is anything but satisfactory from a Corkman's point of view. We have the station mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary at Midleton. The air company there are asking to have that station transferred to Farmers' Cross airfield, which is 572 feet higher than the station at Midleton. I hope that in the near future the Government will show much more appreciation for those who have tried to provide an airfield for Cork and services across the Channel as well.

Mr. Cosgrave

Deputy Cowan asked two questions and I will answer both. There is no intention of establishing any new aerodrome at the moment and it is unlikely in the foreseeable future. In so far as the use of civil aerodromes for military purposes is concerned in the event of any war, as the Deputy is aware, the policy of this country in relation to an international conflict is a matter, under the Constitution, for the Dáil. I cannot foretell what decision the Dáil will take in relation to any conflict that may arise, but whatever decision is taken, whatever Government will be responsible then will, I have no doubt, implement that decision. In so far as the present use of aerodromes is concerned, they are used entirely for civil aviation.

Question put and agreed to.