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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 29 Nov 2000

Vol. 527 No. 1

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

33 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if it is proposed to introduce legislation to protect passengers and guarantee compensation for delays on low fares airlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27780/00]

The issue of air passenger rights is at present being addressed at European level. An EU charter of air passenger rights was introduced earlier this year following extensive consultation with all interested parties – including airlines, passengers, airports, travel agents and disabled people. The charter was formally adopted by Transport Ministers last month and the extensive work programme at EU level arising from this measure is already under way. My Department has been and continues to be fully involved in this process and as part of its involvement, has engaged in a consultation process involving all interested parties.

The European Commission has adopted a two-phased approach to deal with passenger rights issues, specifically through voluntary commitments by the air transport sector and further Community legislation. The Commission's aim is to achieve a balance between legislation and a voluntary code and, therefore, the level of legislation required will depend to a degree on the extent of the voluntary commitments reached.

The Commission has proposed a voluntary code for adoption by European airlines which covers in particular: improvements to service quality; adequate care for delayed passengers in order to minimise inconvenience to them; and simple procedures for lodging complaints and mechanisms for settling disputes out-of-court. The Commission intends to implement legislation which will enable delayed passengers to continue their journeys under good conditions, by giving them the right either to reimbursement of the cost of the ticket or to an alternative flight; create new rights for passengers, by setting minimum requirements for contracts in air travel; and give passengers the information they need to make well-founded choices between airlines. The Commission hopes that the voluntary code will be agreed throughout the member states by May of next year and that the necessary community legislation will be in place by the end of 2001.

I believe that the measures contained in both the voluntary code and the legislative programme proposed by the European Commission are sufficiently comprehensive to address current concerns in relation to passenger rights. I am sure that the aviation and travel industries will play a responsible role in this initiative for the good of air travel as a whole. My Department will continue to co-operate with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs to ensure that the interests of consumers of air services are well catered for.

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