asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether the Government now propose to grant landing rights at Dublin Airport to one US carrier; and, if so, why.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Airline Landing Rights.
16.
Mr. O'Donnell
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his questions on 25th January, 1972.
I do not propose to make any further statement in the matter at present.
Mr. O'Donnell
The question to which the Minister referred is not the question I have asked now.
Indeed it is. If the Deputy will refer to it in detail he will see it is precisely the same issue.
Mr. O'Donnell
My question was to ask the Minister whether the Government now propose to grant landing rights at Dublin Airport to one US carrier. Would the Minister please answer that?
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his questions on 25th January, 1972. I do not propose to make any further statement in the matter at present.
Mr. O'Donnell
The question to which the Minister refers as having been asked on the 25th January is not the question here. It was an entirely different question but, in any case, what the Minister is now saying is that in fact the Government have made no decision yet?
Yes.
Mr. O'Donnell
If that is so, could the Minister explain why on 10th February, 1972 he made a public statement in the course of a speech to the Institute of Transport in which, according to the Evening Press of 11th February, he said:
The admission of one American airline to Dublin could not of itself adversely affect the interests of Shannon Airport and the West.
Could the Minister state why he made that statement if, in fact, the Government have not as yet made any decision in the matter?
That was a repetition of a statement I made in those precise terms, and the Deputy was present, to the Shannon Action Committee deputation last December.
Mr. O'Donnell
Surely the Minister will agree that, as Minister for Transport and Power, he would not make the statement he did on 10th February unless that statement reflected the thinking of the Government in the matter. Furthermore, is the Minister aware that his statement on 10th February has done serious damage to our case?
The case is being handled by the Government and no decision has been made between the relative Governments concerned, the Government of the United States and our Government, and this is a matter for inter-Governmental decision.
Question No. 17.
(Cavan): Does the Minister's statement as reported in the Evening Press mean that the Minister himself, at any rate, anticipates that one American airline will be permitted to land at Dublin Airport?
I cannot anticipate any decision.
I am calling question No. 17.
I do not think Deputies can read English.
Might not the Minister admit the truth that this matter has been, in fact, almost finalised and there is no point at all trying to bluff his way out now?
17.
Mr. O'Donnell
asked the Minister for Transport and Power the estimated loss in revenue to Aer Lingus from the granting of landing rights at Dublin to one US carrier.
Aerlínte estimate that the admission of one US airline to Dublin would result in a reduction of £750,000 in their operating profits.