asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the basis on which immigration pre-clearance facilities have been made permanent at Shannon Airport, County Clare; if any changes have been made in the operating procedures prior to their being made permanent; if US immigration personnel operating at Shannon have any security role or function; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Immigration Facilities.
7.
United States Immigration and Public Health Preinspection facilities were established on a permanent basis at Shannon Airport on 12 April 1988 on the basis of the agreement between the Irish and US Governments effected under the Air Navigation and Transport (Preinspection) Act, 1986, to which the draft agreement was scheduled. No changes have been made in the operating procedures which were used during the trial period.
US immigration personnel operating at Shannon have no security role or function. Security arrangements at the airport remain the sole responsibility of the Irish authorities.
I am sure the Minister is aware that my question arises from a report in The Irish Times of 13 April 1988 which indicated that the new system would have the ability to prevent persons boarding planes who may have intentions of hijacking them and so forth. Can the Minister assure us that the personnel involved will be simply operating on the basis of information and not involved in arresting persons or in any way having a security role and that the Garda are the only people entitled to operate in that way?
I would like to assure the Deputy, in the words of my reply, that security arrangements at the airport remain the sole responsibility of the Irish authorities.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware that the presence of the pre-clearance system in Shannon is affecting the sales of the Aer Rianta shop and if he would make a statement on that?
I am not aware and I would be very doubtful about that. I would be glad if the Deputy could provide me with some evidence. The fact is that Aer Rianta have more expertise in selling than any other company at any other airport in the world because they were in first and they have perfected their techniques to the extent that they are operating, as the Deputy is aware, in other countries as well. I find it very difficult to believe that if there is a problem Aer Rianta have not already solved it because I have the greatest confidence in their commercial ability and the accounts are there to prove it.