Vol. 248 No. 1
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has received any representations from the Union of Students in Ireland regarding the operation of student charter flights from this country by foreign airlines; and, if so, whether he has taken any steps to meet the students' case.
18.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he has granted permission to foreign airlines to operate student charter flights from this country to the USA and elsewhere; and, if so, on what grounds this permission was granted and by whom these flights were organised.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.
For the 1970 summer season permission has been granted to a foreign airline to operate 11 student charter flights to the USA. These flights were organised by the Irish Student Employment and Travel Association—ISETA. The national airline had not the necessary capacity available to operate the flights on the dates required.
Within Europe student charter flights are organised by student bodies and operated by non IATA airlines on a basis which does not meet the rules governing charter flights adopted by IATA. IATA companies, therefore, including Aer Lingus, do not participate in this business. Permission has been freely granted for such flights to foreign airlines and no objections have been received.
No representations have been received from the Union of Students in Ireland regarding the operation of student charter flights from this country by foreign airlines. Representations in this matter were, however, received from the Irish Student Travel Service —USIT—and were duly considered.
Can the Minister say, in relation to the particular organisation which has operated the chartered flights referred to here, other than the USI, whether he is satisfied with the arrangements and that the welfare of the students is being looked after?
I do not want to enter into student travel politics. There are two student travel organisations and each of them consider themselves free to operate commercially. All I am concerned about is that in relation to any authorisation given for any carrier Aer Línte get first preference and they do get first preference.
Whenever I hear of students I am reminded of when the Minister had to get out a window.
Is it not a fact that the USI are the only organisation catering for student travel which have official recognition from the student councils in each of the universities and in view of this would the Minister not investigate the possibility of ensuring that all future arrangements are subject to the control of the USI?
Like good budding politicians each of the student representative councils of each of our universities and colleges have recommended each of these two student carrier organisations to me.
Is the Minister not aware that the organisation to whom permission has been granted, as referred to in this question, are not recognised?
Quite the reverse. The student representative councils from each of our universities and colleges have recommended each of these student carrier organisations as being, in their view, quite capable and eligible to operate such carrier flights.
