Vol. 252 No. 3
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware of the growing volume of dissatisfaction among travel agents, tour operators and Irish organisations in Great Britain at the failure of Aer Lingus to cater fully for tourist and ethnic traffic to Ireland by providing adequate services on suitable days and at suitable departure times; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether he is aware that the failure of Aer Lingus to operate direct scheduled air services between the British midlands and Shannon is having adverse effects on tourist traffic from Britain to the west, mid-west and south-west of Ireland; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 14 together. I am not aware of any growing volume of dissatisfaction among travel organisers in Britain nor am I aware that Aer Lingus have failed to cater for tourism from the midlands or other parts of Britain. If the Deputy sends me particulars of any complaints he has in the matter, I will have them investigated.
Is the Minister aware that the cross-Channel services operated by Aer Lingus are, on the whole, geared towards feeding the transatlantic services and that it is a well-known fact that there are numerous complaints from the people I mentioned regarding the unsuitability of these services? I am amazed that the Minister for Transport and Power knows so little about the unsuitability of these services.
In reply to the Deputy, neither Aer Lingus nor Bord Fáilte have received complaints from travel agents in regard to this matter. There was one complaint last year but it transpired that the company concerned were satisfied that Aer Lingus had met their requirements.
Aer Lingus are increasing the frequency of their services in 1971 from Great Britain to this country according to the character of the services. I do not know whether the Deputy had the experience which I and my successor have had in meeting those who were concerned with the marketing arrangements in Aer Lingus on which a total of about £4 million was spent including £1 million advertising. I would say they are among the most dynamic marketeers I have ever met.
The idea that they are not taking every opportunity to develop services of all kinds, wherever they can be economic, is quite absurd. Aer Lingus is a company with, comparatively speaking, short haul services both across the Atlantic and to Europe. Therefore, the overheads, expressed as a proportion of total cost, are larger than those of almost any other international airline of note. In spite of that, Aer Lingus is able to put aside profits for further development of both services and company, which is proof of the efficiency of the company. I know they can always be more efficient. I know they make mistakes. But they are certainly one of the most dynamic marketing organisations I have ever encountered.
If what the Minister has said is correct, how can he explain the fact that on recent trips to Britain connected with tourist promotion numerous travel agents have complained, to me as well as to Irish organisations, about the unsuitability of the fare structure and of the services operated by Aer Lingus between Britain and Ireland? In view of what the Minister has said I am now making those complaints known to him. What the Minister said is incorrect.
The Minister is glad to hear of complaints. Aer Lingus, like any other organisation, is not perfect.
The Minister should make these complaints known to Aer Lingus.
