Mary O'Rourke
Ceist:39 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to attract additional airlines to fly Irish routes. [14056/95]
Vol. 456 No. 5
39 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts being made by his Department to attract additional airlines to fly Irish routes. [14056/95]
121 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to attract additional airlines to fly Irish routes. [14117/95]
148 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to attract additional airlines to fly Irish routes. [14155/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 121 and 148 together.
I regard the development of more competitive, regular and good quality access links with our main markets as vital to the achievement of our objectives in the areas of tourism and export promotion.
The provision of substantial resources from the Exchequer and the EU for the overseas marketing of Ireland as a holiday destination, raises the profile of Ireland in the markets, thereby generating greater demand for air services. Specific support for the marketing campaigns of carriers, giving particular priority to assisting the marketing of additional capacity and the development of new routes, acts as a further incentive to attract additional airlines to fly Irish routes. Meanwhile I personally have taken every opportunity open to me to speak to carriers about the potential which Ireland holds for new services. I am particularly concerned that there should be adequate access capacity on transatlantic routes into Ireland to amply cater for potential tourists.