asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the Government have taken a decision to allow American airlines to fly directly into Dublin.
19.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Airport Landing Rights.
18.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any recent moves have been made by, or on behalf of, the US airlines to gain landing rights at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement outlining the Government's attitude to this matter at the present time.
20.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the Government now propose to allow American airlines to fly into Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together.
No such decision has been taken. There has been continuous contact between the two Governments on this matter over the past two years and a point has now been reached where it is considered necessary to hold formal meetings about the Air Transport Agreement between the two countries. The first meeting will take place in Washington on 9th August.
In this matter the Government's concern naturally relates to the broad economic implications for this country rather than to the question of any particular right in relation to the agreement.
Mr. O'Donnell
Could the Minister say whether or not any new circumstances have arisen or if any new evidence has come to light over the past six months which would warrant a change in the Government's attitude to this question?
Not to my knowledge. Such as?
Mr. O'Donnell
Is the Minister aware that the argument being put forward in favour of granting landing rights at Dublin is based on a proposition which would lead to a considerable expansion in tourist traffic from North America? In the light of this argument can the Minister say whether or not Board Fáilte have examined this proposition and, if not, why?
The Deputy can take it that the Government take the broad, national economic interest as being the paramount factor, and our interest, from that point of view, is in maintaining the present agreement.
Would the Minister not agree that the matter which is being considered and must be considered is, whether the existing agreement, which precludes direct flights into Dublin by American lines, is a better bet than the possibility of feeder lines from these American lines to Irish planes coming in here? Is that not what they must take into account and forget about regionalisation and everything else?
I would not agree at all with the Deputy here. The Government must take into account precisely the matter of regionalisation and regional development in the southwestern, western and north-western parts of our country. The overall national interest is the Government's paramount consideration in dealing with this matter.
Is the Minister aware that two of the American airlines have stated that they are prepared to guarantee an additional 60,000 passengers in the first year, 75,000 passengers in the second year and 100,000 passengers in the third year if they are allowed to fly into Dublin and to stop at Dublin without flying further?
Mr. O'Donnell
Have Bord Fáilte examined that proposal?
I would ask Deputy O'Donnell whether he has considered the point of view put forward by Deputy Tully, and what are his views?
I would like the Minister to comment on what I said.
(Interruptions.)
Is the Minister aware that the Deputy from north-County Dublin sees no serious objection to the American airlines getting the concessions?
I would ask the House to view this as a serious matter in which the Government, representing the country, have an obligation to view the national interest as the paramount interest. Is the national interest best served by our maintaining the present agreement?
In view of the statement made by the former Minister for External Affairs, I would like him to stand up and ask the question. I was asking the Minister was he aware that these points were being put. I would like the Minister to express his opinion.
(Interruptions.)
The question I would like to ask the Minister is if he is aware whether the Opposition Deputies, Deputy O'Donnell and Deputy Tully, are in favour of the present Government policy towards Shannon Airport as an international airport? The policy benefits not only Shannon Airport and my own constituency but all of the west of Ireland. Are they in favour of the present policy or are they not?
We want the Government to do their job.
(Interruptions.)
Did I understand the Minister to say that the Government were in favour of continuing the present arrangement whereby Shannon would not be overflown? On 9th August, at a meeting, will he put forward the proposal again that there should be no overflying of Shannon into Dublin?
Our position at that meeting on the 9th August will be that in the national interest we want the present agreement to stand. The national interest means the overall interest of the economy taking the country as a whole.
I want to assure the Minister on behalf of the Labour Party and the people I represent that we are totally behind him in his stand for the preservation of Shannon.