Vol. 536 No. 1
82 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the European Union proposals to negotiate a new air agreement with the United States; the way in which such an air agreement would impact on Irish airports; the existing arrangements between Ireland and the USA in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13490/01]
I have indicated my views on the issue of an ‘open-skies' agreement between the EU and US on many occasions. At the Transport Council meeting on 21 December 2000, I again reiterated Ireland's opposition to the idea of a transatlantic common aviation area. The current Ireland-US bilateral air service agreement contains specific measures intended to ensure balanced regional development in Ireland. The Irish Government is concerned that a multilateral agreement between the EU and the US could jeopardise these measures.
The existing arrangements governing access to Dublin and Shannon for services between Ireland and the US were agreed with the United States in 1993 and were designed to ensure that during every 12 month period commencing 1 April, any airline serving the Ireland-US market must, taking all of its flights on all routes together, operate as least as many flights to Shannon as to Dublin. My Department monitors the operations of all airlines operating such services to ensure that this requirement is complied with.
