I share the Deputy's concern about the need for increased traffic and services at Shannon Airport. While I have no control over the actual services which airlines choose to operate, since the operation of particular routes is a matter for the commercial judgment of the airlines, my objective is to ensure that conditions at Shannon Airport are optimised and focused on attracting new business to the airport and generating maximum passenger growth.
I agree that airport charges — passenger load fees and aircraft landing fees — are an important element in the total picture and must be structured so as to stimulate traffic growth. For this purpose, the charges at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports have remained at their present levels since April 1987. Moreover, Aer Rianta introduced discounts on the charges in 1994 and 1995, including a 35 per cent discount on landing charges during the winter months, which was designed particularly to benefit Shannon Airport.
Aer Rianta must bear in mind the need to raise revenue to fund the development programmes which they have on hands at the airports including Shannon. At my request, however, the company is at present formulating new charges proposals for the four years 1996-99. I expect to receive these proposals in the next few weeks and I will be examining them urgently to see how Aer Rianta propose to stimulate traffic at Shannon Airport.
Furthermore, I am having all aspects of the total Shannon Airport package — charges, facilities, promotional resources etc. — examined urgently by my officials in conjunction with Aer Rianta and with the officials of my Cabinet colleague the Minister for Tourism and Trade. I hope to be able to announce positive steps in a number of these areas within a matter of weeks.
