Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Air Transport Agreement.

Tony Killeen

Question:

613 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Transport if he or his officials have engaged on discussions with the US authorities regarding the Ireland-US bilateral aviation agreement; if he has proposed or suggested an open skies policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15432/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan)

I have not engaged in discussions with the US authorities regarding the Ireland-US bilateral aviation agreement. Officials of my Department met with officials from the US embassy on 28 May 2003 at their request. A range of issues were discussed, including the then forthcoming EU Transport Council.

As the Deputy may know, the question of giving a mandate to the European Commission to negotiate an air transport agreement with the USA was agreed at the Transport Council on 5 June 2003. At that Council, I stated I would not oppose the wish of all the other member states to grant this mandate to the Commission. I also reiterated my concerns about the impact an EU-US agreement might have on Shannon Airport, and that I would carefully assess the draft agreement which ultimately emerges from those negotiations.

While I am conscious, therefore, of the concerns being expressed on behalf of Shannon Airport, I believe a liberalised EU-US aviation market will be the inevitable outcome of this process. This will have significant potential benefits not only for Irish tourism and business, but also for Irish citizens wishing to travel to the US, for Aer Lingus which could open new routes to the United States and for other Irish airports which currently do not have scheduled services to destinations in the US.

In order to achieve these benefits as early as possible, especially in order to achieve the best possible outcome for Shannon, we must take a proactive approach to these new realities and opportunities and I have asked my officials to contact the US authorities with a view to bilateral discussions.