Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 Jul 2003

Vol. 570 No. 2

Written Answers. - Air Services.

Pat Breen

Ceist:

469 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 357 of 24 June 2003, the meaning of the phrase the "process towards an open skies policy is no longer about legal interpretation"; if this means that the Government is going to change the current bilateral agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18836/03]

Minister for Transport (Mr. Brennan):

As I said in the reply which the Deputy refers to in his question, as well as in other replies to the House on this issue, it became clear to me that all member states of the European Union wished to respond to the ruling of the European Court of Justice by giving their agreement to a mandate for the Commission to negotiate an open aviation area agreement with the USA.

As I have indicated already to the House, discussions will now be ongoing between my Department and all the necessary interests on these matters, including Shannon interests, the European Commission, the US authorities and Aer Lingus.