asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether CIE have taken over all the North American tourist business of Shannon Travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questious. Oral Answers. - Shannon Travel Tourist Business.
7.
As already announced by Córas Iompair Éireann, a CIE sales force are at present conducting an intensive campaign in North America in an effort to ensure that the foreign business of Shannon Travel will not be lost.
In addition to CIE, other Irish handling agencies are also involved and they too are endeavouring to secure some of the traffic for their companies. I have no doubt that between CIE and the other agencies involved there will be adequate handling facilities for the traffic in 1971.
The Minister may not give the answer to this question, but is it a fact, as has been widely rumoured, that Shannon Travel were being mulcted by the other subsidiaries during the months the commercial banks were closed? Is that true or is it not?
Deputy O'Donnell's question is directed to the North American tourist business of Shannon Travel. As I said, a special sales force of CIE have come into precisely that area of business and are doing the bookings to which Shannon Travel were committed. That is what Deputy O'Donnell's question is about.
I take it that the whole question of Shannon Travel was primarily, since it was Shannon Travel Limited, related to North America and, therefore, my question was very germane to the bookings referred to.
My reply was also germane: CIE are taking over precisely the business booked by Shannon Travel in North America. This is the burden of Deputy O'Donnell's question.