asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the regulations and by-laws in force since May, 1954, at Shannon and Dublin Airports, relating to the admission of visitors meeting and seeing off friends and relatives, and whether special consideration is given to certain classes of people; and, if so, if he will indicate the classes in question, and state in particular what provisions are in force for dealing with members of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Airport By-Laws.
The admission of visitors to Shannon and Dublin Airports to meet or see off friends and relatives is governed by the Shannon Airport by-laws, 1953, and the Dublin Airport by-laws, 1953. Both sets of by-laws came into force on 13th April, 1953.
The payment of admission charges by visitors is governed by the Shannon Airport (admission charges) by-laws, 1953, and the Dublin Airport (admission charges) by-laws, 1953, both of which came into force on 14th September, 1953.
Ordinarily visitors seeing off friends and relatives are admitted to the public areas at both airports but are excluded from the areas reserved for embarking and disembarking passengers. At Shannon they are also ordinarily excluded from the transit or customs-free area.
There are no special regulations relating to the admission of specific classes of persons to either airport for the purpose of meeting or seeing off friends or relatives, but in special circumstances the airport managers have discretion to allow visitors into areas other than the public areas.
The by-laws contain no special provisions relating to members of the Oireachtas.
Who are the people who comprise the list of specially selected persons and their families who are allowed to enter the departure rooms of Aer Lingus at Collinstown?
There are no special lists, as I have explained.
But the Minister stated that under special circumstances——
I explained that the airport manager in special circumstances has discretion to allow visitors into areas other than the public areas. I presume these circumstances are where somebody arrives at the airport and wants to see a friend off. Presumably such people make application to the airport manager and the manager is entitled to say "yes" or "no" as he pleases. But there is no direction from the Government in the matter; and there is no direction from the Department. The discretion is one which is vested entirely in the manager and exercisable by him if he thinks the circumstances warrant it.
I want to raise this matter on the Adjournment. It is a rather personal matter, not to the Minister or the Government of the day, but to myself. It is for personal reasons, which I will explain, that I want to raise this matter.