asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he intends to ban special student flights to the United States; and, if so, why.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Student Flights.
26.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power why two student travel organisations which had not been recognised by his Department were allowed to accept bookings for charter travel to the United States.
28.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware that 1,800 students have booked seats on charter flights to the United States organised by two student travel organisations which have failed to comply with regulations laid down by his Department; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action on the matter.
29.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he proposes to introduce new legislation governing the operation of student charter flights; and, if not, why.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 27, 28 and 29 together.
In order that student charter flights be properly and efficiently organised, I have drawn up conditions for their operation. These conditions are based on the recommendations of the European Conference of Civil Aviation of which this country is a member. The organisers of such flights must be approved by me and one of the main criteria which I take into account in deciding whether or not to approve an organisation is the extent to which it is sponsored by educational establishments or student bodies. Additionally, I endeavour to satisfy myself, as far as practicable, that the organisation will be in a position to mount a successful programme.
Applications for approval for the year 1972 were received from three organisations namely, the Irish Student Travel Service—USIT; the Irish Student Employment and Travel Association—ISETA and the Irish Student Employment Club—ISEC. USIT met all requirements and were approved. ISETA and ISEC did not reach the standard or sponsorship required and, accordingly, were not approved. My decision was conveyed to the organisations concerned some months ago in sufficient time to avoid soliciting students to make bookings for the 1972 summer programme. Deputies will recall that in February, 1972, I announced in the Dáil that only one association was authorised and would be operated for 1972. Nevertheless, certain bookings were made by the two unapproved organisations. I have been informed, however, that these bookings were accepted by the organisations subject to their obtaining my approval and in the case of ISEC I was advised that it was proposed to carry the booked students on scheduled services if my approval for the charter flights were not forthcoming.
I have today been advised that a merger has been effected between ISETA and ISEC. This had been achieved by a reconstitution of the executive board of ISETA involving the co-option of the executive members of ISEC; and the combined bodies will thus operate under ISETA. On this basis, I am prepared to accept the sponsorship for the combined operation as being adequate and as I have been advised that the combined organisation is assured of an adequate number of student exchange visas entitling the students to work in the USA during the summer vacation, I have decided to approve the combined organisation and to authorise the necessary charter flights.
New legislation is not necessary in this matter as adequate control is assured by the necessity to secure my approval for charter flights. I will, nevertheless, look again at the present conditions to see if they can be made more effective for the future particularly in respect of the booking of students by unapproved organisations.
Mr. O'Donnell
In relation to Question No. 29, is the Minister aware that last year he undertook to rationalise the situation in regard to student charter flights? Despite his best intentions we have been confronted with a situation over the past week or so exactly similar to that of last year. The big problem that arose was that two organisations which did not comply with the Minister's regulations were neverthless allowed to operate freely in the colleges and institutions. Can the Minister do anything to prevent this happening next year?
As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot prevent student organisations from soliciting students. What I have done is that by reason of the approach adopted, a merger has been forced between these two organisations which now comply with the requirements and the situation now looks like developing properly. There was a rift between these two bodies, as the Deputy knows, and all sorts of student personalities and politics were involved into which I do not propose to go now but at least they have now merged and this should rectify the situation.
Mr. O'Donnell
It is a good development.