asked the Minister for Transport and Power if this country abides by the Tokyo Convention on Air Standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter in view of the increasing number of planes which have been hi-jacked recently.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Standards Convention.
8.
The Tokyo Convention which deals with offences committed on board aircraft was signed on behalf of Ireland on the 20th October, 1964. Legal problems arising out of some of the provisions of the Convention are in process of being resolved and I am hopeful that it will be possible to introduce legislation to ratify the Convention soon. The Convention is not yet in force internationally as only eight countries out of the necessary twelve have so far ratified it.
I am aware of the necessity to increase security against the hi-jacking of aircraft and my Department is cooperating at present in studies by the International Civil Aviation Organisation to find other possible solutions to this problem.
Did I understand the Minister to say that we had signed this agreement in 1964?
Yes, we did.
Did I understand him further to say that legal difficulties have prevented us from ratifying the matter since 1964?
Yes, we have been engaged in seeing what we can do about the legal difficulties.
To which legal difficulties, which have taken five years to bring before the House, does the Minister refer?
Problems of jurisdiction and extradition. They are rather complicated problems.
Can the Minister give any indication to the House as to when these complicated problems which have already taken five years to solve will be finally resolved?
I think we shall probably be providing legislation fairly shortly, during the present year.
Are these problems peculiar to Ireland or have they been encountered by other countries also?
I think a great many other countries have had difficulties. That partly arises from the fact that only eight countries out of the necessary 12 have so far ratified the Convention. The International Civil Aviation Organisation is also trying to discover ways and means of preventing hi-jacking by security measures which do not necessarily involve legislation. That is the most important element in the whole matter. I might add that at the moment, I am glad to say, no planes are landing at Shannon which would be liable to be hi-jacked. We are not directly involved; we are only trying to contribute to the international scene.
Does this have any bearing on any of the Aer Lingus planes which are leased to Israel? How are they affected?
Or to Cuba?
I could not say. I could not give an exact answer to that.
But there are Aer Lingus planes, according to my information, leased to Israel at the moment?
It is normal for companies to lease planes to other companies. I do not think it affects the issue.