Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Overflying. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 20 May 1992

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Overflying.

Patrick McCartan

Question:

7 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline the procedures in her Department governing requests for permission for trans-atlantic flights to overfly Shannon when there are adverse weather conditions there; if her attention has been drawn to reports that flight EI 133, due to leave Shannon at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 25 March, was delayed for over 24 hours due to a combination of factors including delays in securing departmental permission to overfly Shannon because of weather conditions; whether she intends to review the procedures so that, in exceptional circumstances where permission for overflights may be necessary, it is forthcoming, in reasonable time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mr. Kenneally)

Airlines which operate scheduled air services between Ireland and the US need the specific approval of my Department to overfly Shannon Airport. This is given only in the most exceptional circumstances, primarily for safety reasons. A separate decision is made on each application, following consultations with the relevant technical, aeronautical and meteorological services of my Department, as appropriate.

Aer Lingus applied to my Department on 25 March 1992 for permission, for operational reasons, for flight EI 133 from Dublin to Boston on that day to overfly Shannon. The departure of the flight had been delayed from 13.00 to 22.30 hours due to technical problems. As there were no safety or weather considerations involved, permission to overfly Shannon was not granted. There was no delay on the part of my Department in conveying that decision to Aer Lingus. On the following day, 26 March 1992, Aer Lingus sought permission, for a flight to New York and the flight to Boston held over from the previous day, to overfly Shannon Airport due to adverse weather conditions. After a thorough investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the proposed flights, the permission sought was granted, without any delay on the part of my Department. I am satisfied that the procedures currently in force within my Department in this regard operate efficiently and satisfactorily.

Mr. McCartan

Will the Minister of State agree that it is preposterous that the operatives of an airline service from Dublin to Boston or elsewhere have to ring officials in his Department — or, more particularly, have to find the Minister of Government, who has decided not to answer this question — to get permission to overfly Shannon in certain circumstances? Will the Minister of State also agree that the people best positioned to make that decision are those who fly the aeroplanes? Will the Minister of State please explain — because the Minister is afraid to answer the question — why considerations in regard to weather and safety did not arise on this occasion when the specific need was in relation to the flying hours allowed to the pilots who were waiting to take the planes? If they were to abide by the requirements of the Department they would have had to fly longer hours than is permitted. What was wrong with the very reasonable suggestion that the Boston passengers would be taken by bus from Shannon to Dublin, where they would connect with a flight travelling to Boston, thus allowing full safety considerations to be applied?

An Ceann Comhairle

Please, Deputy McCartan, your questioning is tantamount to debate.

Mr. McCartan

Will the Minister of State agree that what happened on this occasion is a direct product of the Minister's schizophrenic diddering with regard to the whole issue of the Shannon stopover?

Mr. Kenneally

With regard to the first part of the Deputy's question, the Minister's approval was not needed in this case. It was a technical matter which could be dealt with by people within our Department. They did not need to have recourse to the Minister on this occasion and, therefore, there would not have been any delay. I can assure the Deputy that the Minister is not afraid to answer any question. In this case Aer Lingus were informed that exceptions to the Shannon stop-over policy are allowed only in the gravest of cases, for example, when safety is involved. In this case the problem related to mustering crews, which was a management issue, not a technical or safety problem. For those reasons we can only give permission to by-pass Shannon for technical or safety reasons, which was not the case in this instance.

Mr. Yates

In relation to the Shannon stop-over, when will the Minister bare her soul and inform us of the fruits of her labour? Within weeks of taking office she said it would be done immediately, then she said it would be after Easter. However, each day there is a different story in the newspapers, that there will not be any change or that officials have been out to Delta with whom they have reached a compromise involving new direct flights from Los Angeles to Dublin. There is uncertainty — indeed almost ridicule — among mid-west and aviation interests. Will the Minister tell us what is in her mind because she is damaging everybody——

An Ceann Comhairle

This question refers to specific incidents and not to the broad principle of over-flying Shannon.

Mr. Kenneally

The question which the Deputy raised does not relate to the specific question tabled.

Mr. Yates

This is a legitimate question. This is bluff and bluster. The Minister promised to come back to this House——

An Ceann Comhairle

It is a specific question.

Mr. Yates

She has not made any decision in this regard, she is mute in regard to this point.

Mr. McCartan

Will the Minister of State confirm categorically, in respect of the question to over-fly Shannon on this occasion, whether any effort was made to locate the Minister in Brussels by the Department? I see the Minister is shaking her head furiously because she wants to convey the impression that she was not contacted.

An Ceann Comhairle

The question has been replied to by the Minister of State. Let us keep it that way, there should not be a reference to another Minister.

Mr. McCartan

Will the Minister of State, therefore, advise the House whether any effort was made to correct newspaper reports which clearly indicated that passengers on the flight were under the impression that part of the delay was that the Minister could not be found? Will he also say why the Minister's Department must be consulted? Why is there not a procedure in place, based on general principles, that it is a matter for the air traffic controllers, managers and airline controllers to decide this matter?

An Ceann Comhairle

Deputy McCartan has made his point eloquently.

Mr. McCartan

What was the need for departmental interference?

An Ceann Comhairle

We are dealing with a reply from the Minister of State at the Department, let us keep it that way.

Mr. Kenneally

Deputy McCartan asked whether my Department tried to contact the Minister while she was in Brussels. The categoric answer is "no" because it was not necessary for the Minister to be contacted in regard to this issue. As regards newspaper reports, we cannot be responsible for what journalists write and I do not think any further comment is necessary. The reason the Minister's Department were contacted is that the air navigation services office have responsibility in this area and they make the decisions on technical grounds.

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 May 1992