Ivan Yates
Question:9 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will commission an independent study into all aspects of any future change on the transatlantic flight stopover issue; and if so, when.
Ceisteanna (Atógáil)—Questions (Resumed). Oral Answers. - Shannon Airport Status.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:12 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she is planning to meet the Shannon Status Committee in response to their request of 5 May 1992 to give them the opportunity to brief her on the totality of the case for Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:17 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the reason for her delay in announcing a decision on the Shannon Airport status issue; and if her attention has been drawn to the damage being caused to progress in the local economy by this delay.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 12 and 17 together. Since my appointment, I have had discussions with all the interests involved on the Shannon stop issue to hear their views at first hand. I am fully aware of the Shannon Status Committee's position in relation to the Shannon stop arising from the comprehensive submission which the committee have made to me and my meeting with the committee earlier this year. The committee's views in the matter are being taken into account in my consideration of the issues involved.
While the pros and cons of a change in policy have been well articulated and publicised by the various interest groups, there is one issue which has not. Both proponents for and opponents of change have emphasised the need for certainty on this issue for a number of years to come. I have been asked to ensure that whatever decision is taken will last for some years, irrespective of changes in administration or Ministers, and not to take a decision on this issue until I can be reasonably confident of achieving this objective. This is a request which I will respect.
I am particularly concerned to ensure that the pivotal role which transatlantic air services play in regional development and employment creation in the west of Ireland is in no way undermined. At the same time, I am acutely aware of the financial difficulties facing Aer Lingus which the airline themselves have to address and which are not solely attributable to the Shannon stop. I am also aware of the airline's inability to undertake the investment in fleet replacement so urgently needed on their trans-Atlantic operations.
I have not as yet formulated proposals for Government on this issue. A number of proposals have been put to me in recent weeks which I wish to consider further. I have no plans to commission a study in the matter.
I would like to ask the Minister what has happened to her zeal on this matter. Within days of being appointed the Minister said she would have proposals for Government within a matter of weeks. She then said she would have them in March and then she said she would have them, at the latest, just after Easter; but now the Minister has no proposals. I would like to ask the Minister is she incapable of or unable to make a decision. In view of the fact that the tourist confederation have requested an independent study, that no independent study has been carried out and that the Minister is incapable of making a decision, would she allow independent experts to carry out such a study so that the Government as a whole can make a decision on the matter?
I thought I dealt in my original response with the reason that no decision was made on the matter. I have been asked to ensure that whatever decision was taken would last a number of years irrespective of a change of Minister or administration. I said that I would respect that request, and I think Deputy Yates would want me to respect it in the interests of both sides of the argument. In relation to the independent study, as I said in the initial response, I have no plans to commission a study. I am not sure what a study would achieve at the end of the day.
Is the Minister afraid of what it would achieve?
If I were convinced that it would be the right way to proceed, I might go down that road; but as of now I have no plans to commission a study.
In view of the uncertainty the Minister's responses are evoking and the danger involved for investments in jobs, would the Minister set out some time framework within which she will make a decision or bring forward proposals? Will it be this summer, before the end of the recess, before the end of the year or for the next tourist season?
Will it be after the Beef Tribunal?
I have no intention of putting a time limit on it.
The Minister is causing enormous damage to the airlines and to the tourist industry.
Order, the time for dealing with priority questions is fast running out. I will hear a reply to Question No. 10 in the name of Deputy Austin Currie if it is responded to now.