Michael Noonan
Question:79 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Transport the Government's position on the Shannon stopover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23063/03]
Written Answers. - Regional Airports.
Pat Breen
Question:92 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport if the current US bilateral agreement will remain in place until the European Union and the US have finalised their discussions on a new open skies policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23153/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 92 together.
Following unanimous agreement by the Council of Transport Ministers on 5 June, to give the European Commission a mandate to negotiate an open aviation area, OAA, agreement with the United States, the first round of formal detailed negotiations was held in Washington earlier this month. A second round of negotiations is due to take place in Brussels in December. During these negotiations, a special committee made up of all member states will assist the Commission. Ireland is represented on this committee by a senior official from my Department.
As I indicated in answers to questions earlier this year, the objective of the EU-US negotiations is to create a situation in which European and US airlines are not constrained as to the destinations to which they fly, just as they are not so constrained within Europe today.
It is unclear how long these negotiations will take. There are signs that agreement can be reached on a wide range of issues. However, some other issues, such as market access, state aid, and ownership and control, will require more work. The next session of formal negotiations is scheduled for the second week in December in Brussels.
In dealing with this issue, I must also take account of wider considerations, especially the opportunities for new business for Ireland currently not being exploited due to the limitation on the number of US destinations open to Irish airlines. The recent report of the tourism policy review group to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism recommends that my Department should immediately renegotiate the Ireland-US international air agreement in advance of an EU-US agreement in order to remove the present US gateways restriction.
As I have said before, change in this area is inevitable. This change will be introduced on a phased basis and must run in tandem with the putting in place of a package of measures that will be equally beneficial for Shannon. That package of measures will relate to such issues as the continuity and stability of air services through Shannon Airport, especially by Aer Lingus but by other carriers also, the maximisation of the airport's catchment area through surface transport improvements and the establishment of Shannon Airport as an independent commercial airport with a top quality board and management.
When I have further consulted with all the appropriate interests on these matters and in particular with the new airport board-designate, it is my intention to authorise my officials to engage in bilateral negotiations, under my supervision, with their US counterparts on the Shannon stop issue.