Vol. 548 No. 2
71 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the preliminary European Court of Justice ruling in relation to existing bilateral agreements on air transport between European countries and the US; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4392/02]
124 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has received a briefing on the EU Court decision which affects the status of Shannon Airport; and the Government's policy in this regard. [4503/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 124 together.
I have been briefed on this matter by my officials. In his opinion, the Advocate General whose views are not binding on the Court of Justice, proposes that the court should declare that the "open skies" agreements are contrary to Community law as regards fares of United States air carriers on intra-community routes, computerised reservation systems and by insertion or maintenance of clauses favouring national airlines in these agreements. It is not clear yet when the court will give its final legally binding decision on these cases. Accordingly, in the absence of such a decision, it would not be appropriate for me to speculate on what the implications may be for existing bilateral agreements on air transport between European countries and the US or for existing Government policy. However, as recently as last October, the Government confirmed the continuation of the existing policy on the Shannon stopover in the context of the Ireland – United States bilateral agreement on air services and I do not foresee that there will be any change to this policy.
