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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 9

Written Answers. - Shannon Stop-Over.

Jim O'Keeffe

Ceist:

24 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications his views on whether the Shannon stop-over requirement is a positive or negative factor in the development of tourism.

As I informed the House in reply to a Dáil Question on 8 May last, I have received a number of submissions favouring a change in current Government policy on the Shannon stop-over to allow transatlantic flights to fly direct into Dublin on the grounds that this would lead to a significant increase in tourist traffic from North America into Ireland. I also mentioned that I had received a large number of submissions in support of the status quo.

I have given my view on the Shannon stop-over policy on a number of occasions recently and the position remains that there is no change in Government policy in relation to this matter.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is essential to have the maximum level of viable access services available for overseas tourists interested in coming to Ireland and the North American market is no exception. As I already informed the House on 8 May, I have been having extensive discussions with a number of major US airlines with a view to securing additional services on the North Atlantic route. In the latter context, I have given commitments to the Fly Dublin Direct Committee and to the Shannon Status Committee, with whom I have had recent discussions about the Shannon stop-over policy, that in the event of concrete proposals being made to me by any US airline for significant new or expanded services to Ireland which would require a change in existing policy, I am prepared to discuss these proposals with them in full.

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