Vol. 244 No. 2
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if his attention has been drawn to recent reports of new moves being made by the American airlines to obtain landing rights at Dublin Airport; and, if so, whether, in view of the concern caused by these reports in the Shannon region, he will now make a statements outlining his attitude and that of the Government to these latest moves by the American airlines.
195.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will outline the pick up and set down rights enjoyed by the US airlines at Shannon airport and the rights which Irish airlines enjoy in the USA.
196.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has participated in recent discussions with representatives of the US Government on the question of landing rights at Dublin Airport for the American airlines; if so, the reason for such discussions; what new circumstances, if any, have arisen to make such discussions necessary; and whether in view of the concern aroused by these discussions in the Shannon region, he will now give a categorical assurance that any new attempts by the American airlines to gain landing rights at Dublin will be rejected by the Government.
197.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he will state with reference to the reported statment of the Chairman of the United States Civil Aeronautics Board urging the use of economic muscle to secure the right to American airlines to overfly Shannon, what steps the Government will take to safeguard the interests of Shannon; and if he will state Government policy on this issue.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195, 196 and 197 together.
Traffic rights for civil aviation services between Ireland and the United State are governed by the terms of the bilateral agreement between the two countries dated February 3rd, 1945.
The agreement grants operating rights to American airlines authorised under the agreement for transit, non traffic stop, and commercial entry for international traffic at Shannon Airport on the following routes:— The United States to Ireland and countries beyond, via intermediate points; in both directions.
Airlines of Ireland authorised under the agreement are accorded in the territory of the United States rights of transit, non traffic stop and commercial entry for international traffic at Boston, New York and Chicago.
Article 9 of the agreement provides that the "Agreement or any of the rights for air transport services granted thereunder may ... be terminated by either contracting party upon giving one year's notice to the other contracting party".
Article 11 of the agreement provides that "in the event either of the contracting parties considers it desirable to modify the routes ... it may request consultation between the competent authorities of both contracting parties, such consultation to begin within a period of sixty days from the date of the request".
The United States administration requested consultation in the year 1966 under the terms of Article 11. Such consultation took place in 1967. It was concerned with a request by the US administration for the right of entry by an American airline to Dublin. The Government at the time did not accede to the request. Since then there has been no change in the Government's attitude.
