asked the Minister for External Affairs whether any negotiations have recently taken place with a view to permitting American commercial aircraft to have landing rights at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
7.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Airlines' Flights into Dublin.
6.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government have received any recent request from the United States Government to allow American transatlantic airlines to land passengers at Dublin Airport; if so, what action has been taken on the request; and if he will comment on the remarks made by the United States Ambassador to Ireland at a meeting of the United States Chamber of Commerce in Ireland on 29th June.
8.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement with regard to the speech made by the United States Ambassador on 29th June criticising this country's general attitude to trade with the United States and policies regarding the landing rights of American airlines in Irish airports; and whether the Government intend to protest to the US Government about the Ambassador's action.
9.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a statement made by the US Envoy regarding the reasons why in his opinion Ireland was losing many American tourists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
10.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he is aware that the recent speech by the American Ambassador, in which he advocated that permission be granted to the American airlines to fly into Dublin, has given rise to serious concern in the South-West; and, if so, if he will make a statement clarifying the position.
11.
asked the Minister for External Affairs if he has taken note of the recent statement of the United States Ambassador on the operation of American airlines into Dublin Airport; if he will make a statement on the matter.
12.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether he proposes taking any steps with reference to the recent statement by the United States Ambassador relating to the wish of US airlines to be allowed to operate transatlantic services into and out of Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a report to the effect that this country was losing millions of pounds annually because of failure to provide American airlines with landing permission at Dublin Airport; when previous representations were made from American sources on this matter; and if he will make a general statement.
14.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether there has been any renewal of the application by the American airlines for permission to fly into Dublin Airport.
15.
asked the Minister for External Affairs whether any discussions have taken place in recent months at Government level between Ireland and the US regarding the question of granting permission to the American airlines to fly into Dublin.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 15 together.
I have seen the speech to which these questions refer.
As Deputies are aware, the 1945 Air Transport Agreement between Ireland and the United States provides that when either of the contracting parties considers it desirable to modify the routes or conditions set forth in the annex to that Agreement it may request consultation between the competent authorities of both contracting parties, such consultation to begin within a period of 60 days from the date of the request.
In accordance with the Agreement, consultations between Irish and American representatives have taken place from time to time on the granting of landing rights in Dublin Airport to United States air companies. The latest of these conferences took place in Dublin in November, 1961. Since then no request has been received from the American Government for a further conference on the matter.
I see no reason to make the formal protest suggested by Deputy Corish in a case such as this where an Ambassador states his view as to the landing rights he would desire for the air companies of the country he represents.
Does the Minister regard the Ambassador's references as an approach to reconsideration of the terms of the 1945 Agreement?
In the Agreement, section 11 clearly sets out the method of having a conference constituted and when a request is made officially by the United States Government we agree, as we have agreed in the past and, of course, would agree again.
Has the Minister no comment at all to make on the charge made by the United States Ambassador to the effect that this country was not availing of the market that there was in the United States for spirits and the charge that this country had not taken up its quota of beef exports to the United States?
I really dealt with the matter which I am asked here, that was, the question of the landing rights in Ireland afforded to the United States air companies. These questions all refer to that.
I am afraid the Minister has not read the question.
I have.
May I repeat the question? It reads:
To ask the Minister for External Affairs if he will make a statement with regard to the speech made by the United States Ambassador on 29th June criticising this country's general attitude to trade with the United States and policies regarding the landing rights of American airlines in Irish airports; and whether the Government intends to protest to the US Government about the Ambassador's action.
The policies regarding the landing rights of the American air companies I have covered. I have answered Deputy Corish on that and I do not think there is any reason for making the formal protest he suggests.
Is what the Ambassador said a fact or not?
That is a question that can always be discussed around a conference table.
Surely it is a serious criticism of this country to say that we have not availed of markets that are open to us in respect of beef, spirits and sugar?
With regard to beef, there were better prices in Europe and in order to divert beef supplies to America, we would have had to establish State control and give exporters a State subsidy in order that they might get the same prices for their cattle and beef as they could have got in Europe.
That is the Minister's attitude on the beef question. What about whiskey and sugar?
The Sugar Company, I understand, were prepared to export 10,000 tons of sugar, the full amount of the quota, after the last beet harvest but could not get shipping as there was a prolonged longshoremen's strike in the United States. They finally did get shipping for 1,500 tons which they exported, but the shipment did not arrive until January.
Was the Ambassador wrong in respect of all these items?
He gave his opinion, and everybody else is free to give an opinion. He covered many points in his speech.
Was he correct in any of the points?
He was correct in some things he said.
Can we take it from the Minister that the statement made by the American Ambassador constitutes no immediate or foreseeable danger to Shannon Airport?
You can.
Does the Minister intend to take any further action with regard to these statements?
I have answered the question put to me by Deputy Corish.
Would the Minister tell us the position with regard to whiskey?
An ndeimhneoidh an tAire nach baol go gcoimhlíonfar an tairngreacht go mbeidh na coiníní ag poc-léimhrigh ar reidhleáin Aerphort na Sionnaine?
Níl baol ar bith. Tá seacht míle duine ag obair aon fé láthair in ionad na gcoiníní.
Níor chuala freagra an Aire toisc an clampar a bhí ar siúl thall.
Is it not a fact that we are not promoting the sale of whiskey in the United States?
That is not the case.
Try to cover it up now under the cloak of the Irish language.