asked the Minister for Transport and Power what regulations have been made by him in relation to safety precautions at Shannon Airport; and if he will state their general content.
9.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport.
8.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what steps have been taken by him to ensure that safety regulations at Shannon Airport are complied with.
10.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any instance has been brought to his notice within the past 12 months in which safety regulations at Shannon Airport have not been complied with; and, if so, if he will give details.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9 and 10 together.
The law relating to the safety of aircraft operations at airports and elsewhere is contained in the Air Navigation and Transport Acts 1936 to 1965 and in statutory orders and regulations made thereunder. It would not be possible, within the scope of this reply, to outline in any detail the contents of this voluminous body of legislation and regulations.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory provisions relating to safety of aircraft operations falls on different sections and officers of my Department as appropriate.
No instance of any breach of safety regulations at Shannon Airport within the last 12 months has been brought to my notice.
Would the Minister say in respect of the DC4 that was loaded outside the EI factory on 25th March whether or not all these regulations were complied with; if he or his Department have any responsibility with regard to regulations in respect of aliens and contraband and whether or not it was necessary in respect of this particular plane on 25th March to have police protection?
I think a question has already been asked about police protection of another Minister. I in fact have no responsibility for police protection in those particular cases. In reply to the other question of the Deputy, the aircraft in question was registered in the United Kingdom and the responsibility for its proper loading was a matter for British law and the British aeronautical people. UK law in this connection is similar. They have no control over the methods of loading or the carrying out of loading operations on aircraft that are not registered in the State.
I appreciate that and the Minister's reply to me, but what I asked was whether or not he has responsibility for regulations in connection with aliens or contraband and I repeat the question which he says was answered last week. It was not in fact answered. I am asking the Minister if he had responsibility for the police protection that was afforded to the DC4 that landed and was loaded outside the EI factory on 25th March?
In respect of contraband, I would have to have notice of the question. It is obvious it would relate to the Commissioners of Revenue and not to my Department. The airport management did not arrange for any police protection for the aircraft. It must have been arranged from another source.
There was police protection. The Minister has responsibility for this particular Industrial Estate. Would he have to give permission for police protection to be afforded to a plane?
I do not think so, no.
11.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power what progress, if any, has been made towards implementing plans for the extension of landing and handling facilities at Shannon in preparation for the advent of the larger Boeing aircraft.
A scheme for the extension of passenger handling accommodation at Shannon has been prepared and it is hoped to commence work before the end of the year.
Full information is not yet available as to the landing facilities needed for new types of aircraft but it seems that only minor improvements to the existing facilities will be necessary
12.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether there are any prospects of an increase in terminal and transit passenger and freight traffic at Shannon during 1968; and, if so, if he will give details.
I would normally expect the 1967 terminal Shannon traffic of 414,000 passengers and 8,400 metric tons of freight to increase by up to 20 per cent and that there would be little change in the transit traffic for 1967 of 143,000 passengers and 9,900 tons of freight.
However, certain elements such as the proposed US travel curbs, devaluation and efforts by the North Atlantic airlines to promote travel to the US, will affect passenger traffic at Shannon, to an extent which it is not possible to determine at present.
13.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will give any indication of the likely effects of the US restrictions on foreign spending on traffic and business at Shannon Airport; and whether any steps have been taken to offset possible reductions in traffic or business caused by these restrictions.
I am not in a position to give the information required as the nature and extent of the US restrictions have not yet been fully settled. In anticipation of restrictions various proposals to develop business at Shannon are under consideration. The airlines operating over the North Atlantic are also considering measures to develop traffic to offset the effects of any US restrictions.