Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2020
27. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will intervene in cases in which Irish persons who booked package holidays before the Covid-19 lockdown that were cancelled cannot get a cash refund on this holiday or despite booking via a tour operator are being referred to the airline to claim the refund on this portion of the package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25770/20]
View answerConsumer protections for airline passengers and for holiday-makers who book trips through travel agents and tour operators are enshrined in EU law. EU Regulation 261/2004 requires airlines to provide a full cash refund within 7 days in the event that a flight is cancelled by the airline. EU Directive 2302/2015 on Package Travel applies to travel agents and tour operators, and it requires them to provide a full cash refund within 14 days in the event that a package holiday is cancelled, by either the customer or the holiday provider, due to "unavoidable or extraordinary circumstances." In cases where a package holiday has been booked with an Irish licensed travel agent, the person should seek advice and resolution through the travel agent, in the first instance. If that avenue proves problematic then the matter should be referred to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission at www.ccpc.ie.
