Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 2

Written Answers - Eurocontrol Agreement.

John Gormley

Question:

217 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport if it is the position that the Eurocontrol agreement itself does not exempt US military aircraft from charges for route air navigation facilities and services but that bilateral agreements between individual states and the United States have to be entered into in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5793/03]

John Gormley

Question:

218 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport if it is under section 6(b) of S.I. No. 22 of 1999 of the Irish Aviation Authority (Eurocontrol) (Consolidated Route Charges) Regulations 1999, that arrangements have been made with the United States to exempt US military aircraft from charges for route air navigation facilities and services; if so, when the bilateral agreement with the United States was made; the content of the bilateral agreement; if not, the basis upon which US military aircraft are exempted from such charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5794/03]

John Gormley

Question:

219 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Transport if any of the other 30 States party to the Eurocontrol agreement has not exempted United States military aircraft from overflight charges; if so, the States which have not exempted such flights from charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5795/03]

In common with most Eurocontrol member states, Ireland exempts US military flights from payment of the en-route charge.

Austria, Finland and Moldova do not at present grant exempted status to US military flights while Switzerland only exempts US military flights on KFOR-SFOR missions. However, my Department believes that invoices issued by the above states to the US authorities in respect of military flights have not been paid and the US have indicated that they will not be paid.

The Irish Aviation Authority (Eurocontrol) (Consolidated Route Charges) Regulations 1999 are regulations made by the authority in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 10, 43 and 49 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993. The regulations provide for the payment of charges for air navigation services and details those categories of flights, including military, exempted from the payment of such charges. The regulations are in accordance with the multilateral agreement referred to above to which Ireland is a party.