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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 May 1961

Vol. 189 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flights between Shannon and London.

20.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware that the summer schedule for flights between Shannon and London have been so rearranged that it is no longer possible to travel to London in the morning and return to Shannon on the evening of the same day; and if he will arrange to have the previous schedule, which provided this facility, restored.

The Deputy appears to be referring to the Aer Lingus Shannon/London service. The matter of timing of flights is one for Aer Lingus but I am informed by the Company that the schedules have been rearranged to provide connections with the Aerlínte transatlantic jet service. The balance of advantage economically lies in providing this facility, rather than that mentioned by the Deputy. Moreover, a survey carried out by the Company showed a preference by the majority of passengers for early timings out of London.

There are a number of direct services between Shannon and London by other airlines which permit of up to 13 hours in London on the same day. In the circumstances, I do not propose to ask Aer Lingus to consider the possibility of reverting to their previous schedules.

Would the Minister not agree that this service is in operation only for about a year and that something should be done to facilitate the people in the south and the west?

I understand that Aer Lingus made enquiries from the passengers as to what they considered the most convenient times. They decided it was better for passengers who wished to spend the day in London and return the same day to use other services and that the Aer Lingus service was better linked with the Aer Linte Service.

They never considered the passengers.

They consulted the passengers. They made inquiries from them.

The same as the merchants in Tramore were consulted before the lines were broken up.

The merchants in Tramore were consulted, too.

They were not.

They never used it.

They did use it, not the way the Gaelic League Hall was used which you could not keep down in Rathkeale.

There is no Gaelic League Hall in Rathkeale.

There is none now.

There never was. The Deputy should be more correct in his information.

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