Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1971

Vol. 257 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Traffic Rights Negotiations.

14.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power the present position regarding the landing rights issue.

15.

asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he would make a statement concerning the outcome of the air traffic rights negotiations between the US and Irish Governments recently held in Washington.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

I would refer the Deputies to my statement in the matter which issued on Friday last. Copies of that statement are available in the Library.

Mr. O'Donnell

In view of the fact that to date two civil service negotiating teams have gone to Washington and have returned without achieving any progress would the Minister not now consider the best hope of trying to resolve the deadlock is by means of top level Government intervention? Does the Government not think the time is now appropriate to take this matter up directly with the United States Government?

The Government at all stages over a number of years have taken this up at the highest level in the United States of America right up to the level of President. I have made this plain before. Every possible intervention in every diplomatic and non-diplomatic way has been made to ensure that this step will not be taken by the US administration. The fact is that this step has been taken. In my statement last Friday I made it quite clear that the demands being made by the US are very exacting demands: they require admission of three US carriers to Dublin from all points in the US together with full onward rights from Dublin for each of these three carriers. This is the sort of situation which places the matter into perspective as far as the US is concerned and shows the problem we have on hand. At all stages there are continuing discussions at every level right up to the President between the Government here and the Government of the US.

Mr. O'Donnell

Can the Minister say with whom in the American Government did the Irish Government have discussions?

I thought I made it quite plain that we had discussions with everybody concerned in the US administration right up to the level of President of the US.

Now that we are talking about the President of the US is the Minister aware that the Merriott Company, one of the principals of which is a brother of the President of the US and the other a man called John Mulcahy, who is a pal of the Taoiseach, have already bought a site at Dublin Airport to build a luxury hotel in anticipation of the sell-out of the West? Where did they get this advance information?

That is totally untrue.

It is quite true.

The Deputy's scurrilous attitude in this House is no help in a serious matter of this kind.

The Deputy is sabotaging the national interest.

The Minister should not talk about scurrilous carrying on, the scurrilous carrying on is by the Minister and his Government who make money at the people's expense. The name of the company is Merriott and they were given advance information and they bought land near Dublin Airport on which they are going to build a luxury hotel. The Minister knows this is so. The Minister knows all about low standards in high places.

Will the Deputy please sit down?

The truth hurts and that is why the Minister is annoyed.

This is a disgraceful performance on the part of Deputy L'Estrange, making charges against prominent people. The Deputy should cease.

On a point of order——

There is corruption in the country——

If this continues I shall adjourn the House. This is most disorderly.

On a point of order——

It is nice to hear about a point of order at this stage.

If the Government did their job they would not be accused now.

If a Deputy wishes to expose something about which he feels strongly, is it in order for a Minister to cast aspersions on that Deputy's character?

It does not arise on the question. The Deputy is totally out of order.

It is not possible to cast aspersions on Deputy L'Estrange's character.

Do not talk about people's characters. The Minister when he was Minister for Justice paid his own father-in-law £700 which he should not have paid him. I will produce the file on that if the Minister wants information about it.

Let the Deputy produce the file.

The Minister's father-in-law when he was superintendent and was transferred to the west——

I would ask the Deputy to produce the file.

The Minister paid him £700. Do not talk to me about my character. I will place it above the Lenihans' any time.

Let the Deputy produce the file.

The Minister is a disgrace. He has brought the reputation of this country down to that of a banana republic. I will produce the file and give a copy of the allegations——

The Deputy should not run away from them again as he did when he made other allegations.

I did not run away from allegations I made. The allegations I made last year have been proved but the Government would not arrest the murderers of Garda Fallon——

(Interruptions.)

Order. I would ask the Deputy to resume his seat.

There was an inquiry when the Deputy made his allegations but he refused to give the facts.

What I said was true but the Government are running away from the truth.

Deputy L'Estrange is abusing the privileges of this House. He is making disgraceful charges.

What I have said is quite true.

The Deputy might make them outside the House then.

May I ask the Minister if he stated that representations had been made to the President of the United States about the landing rights?

Representations have been made at all levels.

Have they been made to the President?

They have been made to the President.

Has the President of the United States been approached by the Irish Government?

Can the Minister give us details?

I am calling Question No. 16.

I have made this matter quite clear. Last week during discussion of the Estimate for my Department I stated that representations had been made to the President.

May I ask the Minister——

I have already called Question No. 16. The Deputy is not in order.

May I ask the Minister a brief question? Have arrangements been made for a resumption of joint discussions?

Not yet but I would hope for a resumption as soon as we can arrange it.

Top
Share