asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he is aware of the serious concern of people in the western region because of the threats by US airline companies to overfly Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
52.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - US Aircraft Landing Rights.
51.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the up-to-date position regarding landing rights for USA airlines at Dublin Airport.
53.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if, in view of the serious implications of the recent ultimatum by the US Government regarding landing rights, he will now intervene with the US President with a view to having the ultimatum withdrawn and the existing bilateral agreement maintained; and, if not, why.
54.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the present position regarding the bilateral air agreement between Ireland and the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
55.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the present position in the dispute over landing rights at Dublin Airport.
56.
andMr. Herbert asked the Minister for Transport and Power if consideration will be given to making Shannon Airport the terminal for all transatlantic flights.
57.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will make a full statement on the progress of the negotiations to date concerning the concessions being sought by the US Government for Dublin landing rights for US carriers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 together.
The present position regarding the US application for landing rights at Dublin for transatlantic air services is that, following the Government's most recent refusal to grant such rights, the US authorities gave notice, under the provisions of the bilateral Air Agreement between the two countries, that with effect from 18th August, 1972, landing rights for Aerlínte at New York would be withdrawn.
The Government's attitude in this matter has all along been that the interests of Shannon Airport and the western tourist areas and of the national airline are best served by maintenance of the air agreement in its present form. In view of the action taken by the US authorities the matter must now be further discussed with them. A date for such discussions is likely to be fixed in the near future.
In view of the discussions pending, I do not wish to make any further statement at this time.
Will the Minister agree that if Shannon Airport were determined as the transatlantic terminal it would eliminate the US claim for flights into Dublin, and would he give an undertaking that he will have a serious look at this with a view to making this change?
I will bear everything in mind regarding our negotiating position but the fundamental thing to bear in mind is that from 18th August next the effect of the US notice to this Government is that our planes will not be allowed to land at New York. The future of flights from Ireland to New York is totally wrapped up with the future of the Shannon development and Aer Lingus development. I wish to emphasise this to show that this is a negotiating situation in which we have to fight hard to retain our present position. I do not think we should embark in depth here on the various alternatives—we should not display what our negotiating attitude is.
Mr. O'Donnell
Can we take it that the Government have taken every possible means at their disposal to persuade the US Government to withdraw the ultimatum and, if so, can the Minister indicate the steps?
We have taken all steps.
Mr. O'Donnell
Since the ultimatum was issued what steps have been taken at diplomatic level? I have no ulterior motive in asking these questions.
I can assure the Deputy the Government have done everything that needs to be done.
I do not want to raise any matter here that would jeopardise the position but I should like to say there is a very strong effort being made, of which I am personally aware, on the part of tourist organisations to create a situation in which planes would be flown in because they would stand to gain by it. Would the Minister bear that in mind?
I will bear everything in mind. I am aware of what the Deputy mentions.
I want to repeat that in so far as the Labour Party are concerned we are 100 per cent behind the action taken by the Minister for Transport and Power to preserve the rights of Shannon Airport as the main terminal of this country.
Deputy Coughlan is entitled to make his case. I belong to a tourist organisation which recently passed a resolution suggesting that one American airline should be allowed to land at Dublin Airport. I want to make my position clear.
We will bargain in Ireland's interest. We will bargain in the national interest and I respect Deputy Coughlan's views fully in this respect.
(Interruptions.)
58.
andMr. Herbert asked the Minister for Transport and Power the total number of passengers carried by US airlines on scheduled services into Ireland in 1970 and the number of passengers who terminated their flights at Shannon Airport.
The total number of passengers carried by US airlines on scheduled services into Ireland in 1970 was 43,400. All these passengers disembarked at Shannon but the number proceeding onwards to Dublin was not recorded in 1970.
Records for the current year indicate that of 38,600 passengers who disembarked from scheduled services of US airlines at Shannon in the five months May to September 2,500 or 6½ per cent continued to Dublin by air.
59.
andMr. Herbert asked the Minister for Transport and Power what European countries grant fifth freedom rights to all three US carriers, that is to say Pan American, TWA and Seaboard and Western; and the details of the US air agreements with such countries.
The information available to me indicates that the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Ireland accord fifth freedom rights to the three US scheduled airlines in question. It would not be practicable to furnish the voluminous details of the agreements between the US and these countries.
Would the Minister agree that the current air agreement between Ireland and the US is patently in the American favour?
Yes. This is our point. Our whole bargaining position is that we, a small country, enjoying facilities across the Atlantic should not be in any way taken advantage of by the American Government or the American airlines as they, in fact, are doing.
Mr. O'Donnell
The Americans are getting colossal concessions here already.
Yes.
Mr. O'Donnell
They have rights here which they have in no other country in western Europe.
From Shannon, yes.
Mr. O'Donnell
Yes, and Shannon Airport is the international airport.
That is a very arguable point.
Mr. O'Donnell
This is a very important factor. I am not in any way contentious about this. I am fully in line with the official thinking. Is it not a fact that the balance of the existing landing rights favours the Americans, even at present?
I have said that.
60.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the official Bord Fáilte attitude to the issue of landing rights at Dublin Airport to the US carriers.
Bord Fáilte's official attitude is that the interest of Irish tourism is best served by the situation which exists at present and that this situation should be preserved if possible.
Mr. O'Donnell
The Minister is aware that there are certain doubts about the attitude of Bord Fáilte, particularly in the light of the fact that the Bord Fáilte representative on the National Tourism Council abstained from voting on this issue. The chairman of Bord Fáilte made a statement on the matter subsequently. Can we take it that Bord Fáilte are categorically, and beyond all doubt, in favour of maintaining the existing position?
Yes.
Mr. O'Donnell
In other words, can we take it that the claim by the Americans, and the case they are making on the grounds that admission to Dublin would generate 100,000 additional tourists to Ireland, is absolute bluff and that there is no foundation for this at all? Is the Minister aware that when I had a five-hour meeting with the president of Pan-American a couple of weeks ago I challenged him to produce evidence or to produce a report or survey which his company had undertaken and he was unable to do so?
Yes.
(Interruptions.)