Vol. 563 No. 4
519 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the plans he has to follow the UK and introduce legislation to cover against war risk for airlines travelling to Cyprus and the Middle East should cover be withdrawn due to war in Iraq; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7942/03]
Currently, no Irish airlines operate scheduled passenger services to Cyprus or the Middle East. One Irish freight airline operates regularly into that region, with another one operating very occasionally. Neither airline has reported difficulties or recent changes in the terms of their aviation insurance for that region. Should war risk insurance cover for Irish aviation services be withdrawn, then depending on the scale of the impact on such services, the Government can be asked to consider urgently requesting the Oireachtas to enact legislation. Such legislation would be based on the Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Act 2001, which would, when enacted, enable the Government to provide insurance indemnities if necessary to Irish airlines, airports, and other essential aviation companies.
