Vol. 508 No. 1
226 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will outline her proposals for the appointment of a regulator for Irish airports; when she proposes to publish the legislation; the function of the regulator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17698/99]
In my recent announcement of the Government's approval of the preparation of a Bill to establish an independent regulator for Irish airports and related aviation matters, I indicated that the regulator's functions would include: regulating airport charges; approving arrangements for ground handling services at airports; arranging for the allocation between airlines of airport landing and take-off slots at airports where demand for slots exceeds slot availability; licensing Irish airlines under EU licensing regulations; and administering the travel trade protection scheme through which travel agents and tour operators are licensed and bonded.
