Vol. 244 No. 11
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether his attention has been drawn to recent reports which indicated that Aer Lingus would seek to restrict landing rights at Shannon at present enjoyed by the American airlines; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
64.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any discussions have taken place lately between himself and any representatives of the US Government regarding the question of landing rights at Dublin Airport; and, if so, if he will give details.
65.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the fact that his recent statement in the Dáil that the Government would resist pressure from the US airlines to obtain landing rights at Dublin Airport as long as they could has given rise to considerable speculation and concern in the Shannon region, he will now make a comprehensive statement outlining the Government's attitude to this question.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 64 and 65 together.
In my reply to similar questions in the Dáil on 5th February, 1970, I explained that any modification of the routes in the US-Ireland Air Agreement is one for the contracting parties to that agreement.
No formal request for further consultation under article 11 of the agreement has been received from the United States administration.
In the Dáil on 10th February, 1970, in my reply to the debate on the Supplementary Estimate for my Department I reiterated that the Government's policy in this matter remains unchanged.
The Minister is not going to get away with answering my three questions as easily as that. With regard to Question No. 63, has the Minister seen the newspaper reports to which I have referred in which it stated that Aer Lingus are contemplating using economic muscle against American airlines by attempting to restrict American airlines landing at Shannon? This statement which appeared in the papers has not been contradicted by Aer Lingus. Will the Minister now throw some light on the subject?
If I or any other Minister started chasing everything that appeared in the newspapers we would end up doing nothing else.
It has been referred to as a war.
Will the Deputy let me finish? Aer Lingus have nothing to do with the administration of either Shannon or Dublin Airports, Aer Lingus are a national commercial airline carrier. The airports are under the direct jurisdiction of the Government.
