I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 257 together.
My Department and I meet regularly with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, as well as other airlines to discuss matters relating to aviation.
As an island, air transport connectivity is clearly of vital importance to Ireland for both economic and social reasons. There is a healthy competitive market for air services in and out of the country and Ireland benefits from a wide range of air connections, both short and long haul. New routes are being announced on a regular basis by both Irish and international airlines. Irish airports and Tourism Ireland have attractive incentive and marketing programmes available to help support new services. Maintaining and developing this connectivity is certainly a key objective of national aviation policy.
The new national aviation policy that is currently being developed in my Department
will outline the actions to be taken by Government to help sustain and develop the aviation sector, in order to create jobs and support business and tourism. Ireland's two largest airlines, Aer Lingus and Ryanair, are among the 74 stakeholders that made submissions as part of the public consultation process on the policy review that took place earlier this year.
The number and quality of the submissions received is encouraging and demonstrates the strong interest there is in shaping future aviation policy. The submissions are currently being reviewed and the intention is that a draft National Aviation Policy Statement will be issued before the end of the year, which will provide further opportunity for stakeholder input before the adoption of the new policy document in early 2014.
In relation to maximising the use of this country as an international air transport hub while the potential is not there to develop a hub on the scale of a Heathrow or Schiphol which have large populations in their hinterland and significant international connectivity. However, there have been some recent positive developments. Long haul capacity out of Ireland, particularly transatlantic capacity, has increased significantly this year and a number of new services to the US West coast and Canada will commence next year. These additional routes, together with preclearance facilities and the abolition of the air travel tax should serve to increase the attractiveness of Shannon and Dublin airports as transit hubs.
Ref No: 47597/13 (Ans. covers questions: 47597/13, 47604/13)
