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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 1986

Vol. 368 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shanwick Air Radio.

12.

asked the Minister for Communications if there are proposals from Aer Lingus to take over the operation of the Shanwick Radio Network, North Atlantic area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There are no proposals from Aer Lingus to take over the operation of the Shanwick Radio Network, North Atlantic area.

I understand that all aircraft using this air route to North America must pay for radio communications and, as this revenue is controlled from London, will the Minister take steps to have it controlled by Aer Lingus or Aer Rianta?

There is some misunderstanding in regard to this. Neither Aer Lingus nor Aer Rianta have any role or responsibility for air communications. That is a matter for the Air Navigation Services Office of my Department. It is true that there has been a co-operation agreement in existence for some years between Ireland and the United Kingdom under the aegis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation under which an area called Shanwick, an abbreviation for Shannon and Prestwick, across the North Atlantic is jointly controlled by ourselves and the British. There is a certain role for Shannon at Ballygirreen and a role for Prestwick. That system is under review to see whether it is the best arrangment for Ireland or whether an alternative arrangement would be better.

In the event of an international incident or emergency what say will Ireland have in the field of aircraft communications in that area?

That is a worry I had when I discovered that the agreement between the British and ourselves provided that anything more than 200 miles from our coast was not under our direct control. I wondered if in a national emergency access to Ireland could be cut off and because of that I opened discussions with the British with a view to drawing up an alternative plan. Those discussions are nearing completion and I am considering alternative proposals which will specify certain routes that will not be controlled by any other sovereign State.

Did the Minister say that Shannon had the major controlling voice in Shanwick and that Prestwick played a minor role?

I did not say that. I said that Shannon has a certain role to play, as has Prestwick. The effect of the arrangement is to give effective control over the international air space, anything beyond 200 miles west of Ireland, to the British Civil Aviation Authority. Therefore, access to this country is completely surrounded by air space control operated by the British aviation authority. I did not think that was satisfactory and I asked that discussions be opened with the British to rearrange that. Those discussions took place and I am considering new proposals which will provide for a national emergency and put certain aspects of air space under our direct control.

Does that obtain on the south western approaches, in the Mount Gabriel catchment area?

The Mount Gabriel radar station was part of Eurocontrol but has reverted to the complete control and ownership of my Department. That is not affected by the agreement between Great Britain and ourselves. Obviously, that is a main communications station for all air traffic passing over or near the south coast.

The Minister made a statement about a 200 mile limit and I should like to know if that obtains as far as the south west coast is concerned.

It does, because the effect of the existing arrangement is to have Ireland circled completely by international air space that is controlled by British aviation communications. I do not think that is satisfactory.

Is the Minister referring to civil aircraft?

Yes. I do not think that system is satisfactory and for that reason I opened discussions with my counterpart in London and arranged that my officials should follow up those discussions. Those discussions have been concluded and there are proposals before me for consideration. I will be bringing proposals to the Government soon. The effect will be that we will not be completely surrounded and that we will have certain routes through international air space under our direct control. There may be some cost factors involved which we will have to assess.

Mount Gabriel is exclusively engaged in civil aviation — is that true? Is there a military aspect?

All aircraft passing through airspace, whether military or civil, has to clear with the civil aviation authorities. It is almost exclusively civil aircraft, though there are cases where it is under military control. Generally speaking, it is under civil control.

At all levels?

At all levels and all heights.

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