Vol. 472 No. 5
7 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reports, if any, he has received from the steering group on the Ireland-United States access issues; if so, if the reports will be published; the action, if any, he proposes to take on foot of the recommendations contained in the reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23492/96]
The steering group in question was set up in December last year by my predecessor and by my colleague Deputy Kenny, Minister for Tourism and Trade to look at the issue of Ireland-US access. The group comprises senior officials from both Departments, Aer Rianta and Bord Fáilte. A report has been prepared by the Group and has been submitted to both myself and the Minister for Tourism and Trade. It is not the intention to publish this report as it contains sensitive market research and other commercial information.
In summary, the report of the Steering Group has highlighted priority US points to target, the importance of a strong and developing Aer Lingus presence in the market and the various strategies which should be pursued in considering approaches to US airlines. The group also stressed the need for ongoing review of its work having regard to the fluid nature of the aviation world.
During its work, the group commissioned research on the Ireland-US market which looked at major US gateway airports, transatlantic traffic flows, hub strategies of major US airlines, the major carriers at the different gateways, overall airline development strategies, etc. Bord Fáilte also carried out an examination of the performance of nine US regions in terms of tourism to Ireland, on the basis of traffic to the UK and Europe, degrees of Irish ethnicity, and measure of potential — future intention to travel — revealed in a recent major US research study.
The State agencies involved also met a number of US airlines to ascertain their interest in and plans, if any, for the Irish market. While certain US airlines have expressed general interest in the Irish market, none of the airlines approached has indicated any firm proposals to inaugurate new services to Ireland.
I welcome the existence of the steering group and that it is doing its work. It is disappointing that there is not more evidence of the work and studies they have undertaken. It has, as the Minister is aware, its final report since last March and there is no indication of any benefit flowing from the intensive studies it is reported to have undertaken. Copies are not to be made available to us but I accept that.
The Minister will be aware of a lot of complaints in the tourism industry at the lack of access from the southern and south eastern States of the US to the Irish market and that there is an unwelcome trend in the way in which the growth in tourism is more evident on the east coast than on the west coast.
The Deputy should ask a question.
Access is the key to the future growth and development of the prosperity of the tourist industry. The Minister will agree that the work of this steering committee is critical to the success and quality of tourism we want to establish. Can the Minister indicate what decisions were made arising from the work of the steering committee to date?
As I pointed out, the working group has produced a series of recommendations and followed them up with investigations. I have detailed some of those. Decisions have to be made on foot of those recommendations by those involved, principally the airlines. As the Deputy knows, the development of new services generally do not happen quickly. While certain US airlines expressed a general interest in the Irish market, none of the airlines approached has firm proposals to inaugurate new services. We will have to continue the work of encouraging them to do so.
As he is new in the office, I accept the Minister's response in so far as it goes but we would all be cheered if we heard he will take a special interest in this matter and make a commitment to achieve progress to allow access from these potentially valuable tourism destinations to the Irish market.
We will have other opportunities to speak about these matters when the Deputy will be given the assurance he would like to have.
Did the steering group in its report encourage a return to the pre-July 1993 position in terms of access to Ireland or recommend that we move in the opposite direction? Will the Minister consider publishing those parts of the report which do not contain sensitive information?
The group did not make any new proposals, rather it looked at possible sources of extra business.
