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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Dec 1998

Vol. 497 No. 7

Written Answers - Air Services.

Noel O'Flynn

Question:

105 Mr. O'Flynn asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her attention has been drawn to the public concern in relation to the high fares charged for domestic air services including those between Cork and Dublin compared to those for comparable international flights from Dublin; if she will introduce competition by licensing at least three airlines to provide services on the Dublin to Cork route; and if she will insist as a condition of those licences that the operators will stagger their timings to provide maximum services and will interline with connecting flights of their own and of other operators at Dublin Airport. [26206/98]

My Department's policy is to actively encourage and facilitate as wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive commercial air services to meet the needs of Irish tourism, trade and industry. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2409/92 which came into effect on 1 January, 1993, air carriers licensed in the European Economic Area, EEA — the 15 EU member states together with Norway and Iceland, are free to operate on any routes within the EEA in accordance with their own commercial judgment. As EEA carriers are no longer required to obtain Government approval for air fares in respect of carriage within the EEA, I have no statutory function in the matter.

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