Vol. 577 No. 5
169 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if the dual gateway strategy will be maintained in view of the importance of the Shannon stopover for the economic prosperity of the mid-west region and the maintenance of commercial confidence in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31914/03]
The issue of the Shannon dual gateway is one that I must consider in the context of EU-US negotiations currently under way. Formal detailed negotiations took place between the EU and the US in early October and last week in Brussels. During negotiations a special committee made up of all member states assisted the Commission. Ireland is represented by a senior official from my Department. It is unclear how long negotiations will take.
In dealing with the issue of the dual gateway status of Shannon airport, in addition to the impact on the mid-west region, I must take account of wider considerations, especially the opportunities for new business for Ireland not exploited at present due to the limitation on the number of US destinations open to Irish airlines. I must also seek to complement, in policy terms, the impending establishment of an independent Shannon airport and the work of the Shannon board designate.
Recently the tourism policy review group gave its report to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. It recommended 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. Change in the area is inevitable. Officials are currently holding consultations, on my behalf, with the trade unions representing airport staff. I will consult the new board designate of Shannon Airport in the near future. Recently I spoke to interest groups from the Shannon region. I will decide what steps to take after consultations have been concluded.
