Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1987

Vol. 373 No. 12

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fifth Freedom Rights.

6.

Mr. Cullen

asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the countries for which Aer Lingus have fifth freedom rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Mr. Wilson

I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report a statement setting out the fifth freedom rights for Irish carriers, as provided for in bilateral air services agreements concluded by Ireland with various countries.

Following is the Statement:

Fifth freedom rights for Irish carriers, as provided for in air services agreements concluded by Ireland.

(See Footnote 1)

Country	Route
1. Australia	Ireland — intermediate points — Fiji — to a point in Australia (not specified) — points beyond.
2. Belgium	Dublin-Manchester-Brussels-Dusseldorf and/or Frankfurt.
3. Canada	Shannon — intermediate points — Gander and/or Montreal and to points in countries beyond in both directions.
4. Czechoslovakia	Dublin and/or Shannon — intermediate points — Prague — points beyond.
5. Denmark	Ireland — intermediate points — Denmark — points beyond.
6. France (See Footnote 2)	Dublin-Paris-Geneva/Zurich-Rome; Ireland-Lourdes-Rome; Ireland-Lourdes-Barcelona and/or Malaga.
7. Germany	1. Ireland-Manchester and/or Brussels and/or Amsterdam -Dusseldorf, Frankfurt or Munich.
	2. Ireland-Manchester and/or Amsterdam-Hamburg-Copenhagen.
	3. Ireland-Manchester and/or Brussels and/or Amsterdam -Dusseldorf or Stuttgart — points in Switzerland and/or Italy.
8. Greece	Ireland — intermediate points — Athens — points beyond.
9. Italy (See Footnote 3)	Ireland-Lourdes/Zurich-Rome; Ireland-Geneva-Milan.
10. Luxembourg	Shannon/Dublin — via intermediate points — Lux-embourg — points beyond.
11. Malta	Ireland — intermediate points — Luga — points beyond.
12. Netherlands	Dublin — points in UK Midlands — Amsterdam — points beyond.
	Shannon-Amsterdam — points beyond.
13. Norway	Ireland — intermediate points — Norway — points beyond.
14. Poland	Ireland — intermediate points (excluding the UK) — Warsaw or other points in Poland — points beyond.
15. Portugal	Dublin/Shannon-Lourdes-Lisbon.
16. Singapore	Ireland — points in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia — Singapore — points in the Orient and the SW Pacific.
17. Sweden	Ireland — intermediate points — Sweden — points beyond.
18. Switzerland	Shannon/Dublin — intermediate points — Zurich (Geneva or Basle) — points beyond.
19. Turkey	1. Ireland — intermediate points (excluding London) — Ankara.
	2. Ireland — intermediate points — Istanbul — points beyond.
20. United Kingdom (See Footnote 4)	Ireland-Belfast-Amsterdam and/or Brussels and/or Dusseldorf.
	Ireland-London-Strasbourg.
	Ireland-Belfast-Lourdes (charter series).
	Ireland-Glasgow or Manchester-Lourdes (ad-hoc charters).
	Shannon and/or Dublin-Manchester-Brussels and/or Amsterdam and/or Dusseldorf and/or Frankfurt.
	Shannon and/or Dublin-Manchester-Amsterdam and/or Copenhagen.
	Shannon and/or Dublin-Manchester-Zurich and/or Rome.

Footnote 1

The fifth freedom rights outlined above can only be implemented when the Irish authorities and the two foreign States agree to an Irish carrier operating on a commercial basis between them. Therefore, the Irish, UK and Belgian authorities would each have to give approval before an Irish carrier could operate between Manchester and Brussels for instance. Aer Lingus do not at present operate any routes on a fifth freedom basis.

Footnote 2

Fifth freedom rights on Dublin-Lourdes-Rome were withdrawn by the French authorities in 1981 but were restored in 1986.

Footnote 3

Fifth freedom rights on the routes (i) Dublin-Zurich-Rome; and (ii) Dublin-Geneva-Milan, were withdrawn by the Italian authorities in 1980 and 1985 respectively.

Footnote 4

Fifth freedom rights on the following routes were withdrawn by the UK authorities on a phased basis in the 1970s:

(i) Manchester and Brussels
Manchester and Rome	Discontinued from 1/4/73
Manchester and Zurich
(ii) Manchester and Dusseldorf	1/4/75
Manchester and Frankfurt
(iii) Manchester and Amsterdam	— 1/4/77
(iv) Manchester and Copenhagen	— 1/4/78

Mr. Cullen

Obviously, I am unaware of what the document will contain. Will the Minister agree that the fifth freedom rights are an extremely important entity for an airline such as Aer Lingus to maintain themselves as a major airline in the future? Will he increase their rights in other countries throughout Europe in order to enhance Aer Lingus operational potential?

Mr. Wilson

I can reply strongly in the affirmative in that regard. I should like to include another air company which would also benefit by an extension of fifth freedom rights and that is Ryanair, which operates out of this country also.