The policy of my Department is to actively encourage and welcome new services on all routes to and from Ireland.
In relation to access from Europe, all European Economic Area airlines are free to operate on any international route within the EEA without any restrictions on frequency, or capacity, provided slots are available at airports.
In relation to access to the regional airports as the Deputy is aware, these are owned and operated by private undertakings. The development plans, traffic potential and viability of these airports are therefore primarily matters for the individual airport companies.
The Deputy will be aware that to improve access to the regions from abroad through the network of air services operating to and from Dublin, my Department has introduced a programme of essential air services in accordance with EU Council Regulation 2408/92. This programme, which covers services between four regional airports — Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Donegal — and Dublin, is designed to guarantee a minimum level of air services to the regions.
The Deputy will also be aware that, to assist the regional airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports, marketing grants were paid by my Department to the six regional airports during 1993 and 1995. Furthermore, arising from financial and other difficulties being experienced by most of Ireland's privately owned regional airports, a review of policy relating to these airports was carried out by my Department in 1996. As a result of this the Government approved a strictly time limited scheme of Exchequer grants totalling £2.35 million over the four years 1996 to 1999 for the six regional airports to assist the airport companies in marketing and promoting their airports.
In relation to access to and from our main markets i.e. UK, mainland Europe and the US, a very liberal regulatory framework is in place. However, the question of whether any airline wishes to exercise traffic rights available to them is entirely a matter for the airline on the basis of its own commercial judgment. As mentioned earlier, EEA airlines are free to operate on any international route within the EEA.
Outside the EEA access is governed by the relevant bilateral air agreement. A liberal policy is generally adopted by my Department in regard to traffic rights granted under these agreements.