asked the Minister for Transport if he will make representations directly to the British Prime Minister regarding the question of the reallocation of air space reservations required for military use between Britain and Ireland which are resulting in additional costs to the air flight fares between Dublin and London and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Air Space Military Reservations.
8.
The utilisation and reservation of its airspace is a matter for each State.
Representations have been made by my Department to the British Authorities from time to time and as a result a direct routing between Dublin and London has been in operation for some time at weekends and on public holidays. The question is a complex one but the Deputy can rest assured that every opportunity is taken by my Department to press the case for the most direct routing possible at all times.
Can I rest assured that the Taoiseach will raise this matter with the British Prime Minister next week during his visit to that country?
I can tell the Deputy that we have a very good working relationship between our aviation authorities both here and in the UK but it is a complex matter. As the Depnty will be aware the question of allocation of military air space is one of the complications which come into this area. At the moment it does not seem necessary that it has to be taken up at that level but if it is found necessary I will certainly bring it to the attention of the Taoiseach.
Would the Minister not agree that efforts to date have been dramatically unsuccessful in getting any movement on this and that the imposition of this military air space puts an extra cost load of approximately 12 to 13 per cent on the flight between here and London specifically? In the light of that, will the Minister not now assure the House that he will request the Taoiseach to raise the matter with the British Prime Minister as the discussions between both the Departments of Transport have been so unsuccessful to date?
The record over the last ten years has not been anything like what the Deputy would like the House to believe. In fact, my information is totally opposite. Close cordial contact is maintained at all times by the director of our traffic services with his colleagues in the CAA and NATS. We had made progress but the allocation of the air space is a matter for the countries concerned. The UK has gone quite some distance in meeting us on the matter of direct routing on the Dublin-London route. Additional costs in the air flight between Dublin and London are not anything as dramatic as the Deputy seems to suggest. Military utilisation of air space and the easing of any difficulties which would account for fuel savings would not result in any reduction in air fares.
Is the Minister aware that that is not the situation, as has been directly reported to Members of this House by personnel operating the air service between Dublin and London? The relationship between the transport department here and that in London is second to the question of the military use of air space. It is a matter for the Heads of State of both countries. Does the Minister not consider that it would be useful to request the Taoiseach to raise this matter again next week when he visits Mrs. Thatcher?
Consultations are going on at all times on this matter. I will certainly review the progress of those consultations and the likely outcome of them. If it is found necessary to have the Taoiseach raise the matter I will certainly bring it to his attention.