asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will outline the new regulations governing the operation of charter flights.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Charter Flights.
7.
Mr. O'Donnell
The regulations governing Affinity Group Charter Flights are those contained in the notice issued by my Department in October, 1970, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
I have recently issued a Press notice warning intending passengers on such flights to satisfy themselves beforehand that the organising association or group fulfils the prescribed conditions and that they themselves are eligible to participate by having at least six months membership of the association or group immediately prior to the date of the flight.
Mr. O'Donnell
Can the Minister give us any indication of the number of irregularities that have been found in charter flights originating from this country? Would the Minister confirm that there have been wholesale breaches of the regulations?
Not wholesale but a certain number of breaches. This caused me to issue the Press notice warning intending passengers so that they would save themselves the hardship of booking a flight that would have to be cancelled.
Can the Minister say what companies have been rejected?
I can do that for the Deputy if he puts down a question.
I was in contact with the Minister about one organiser.
Yes, we managed to meet that situation half way.
Mr. O'Donnell
Would the Minister agree that it is vitally important that the public should be warned against booking seats on flights which may not come within the regulations? Would the Minister undertake to inform public opinion?
This is why I issued the Press notice so that the public would be warned fully about this and about the dangers involved in booking such flights in a haphazard way.
Question No. 8.
Will the Minister not agree that while some people may have been members for over six months, a charter flight could be cancelled on instruction from his Department because one or two people may not. If a person was a member for over six months and found that the charter flight was rejected this would not help at all?
I am in full sympathy with people who find themselves involved and who are genuinely members of a club but where the operator concerned has a wrongly organised system of bookings that results in people who are not entitled to fly being booked.