Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2005
443 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if the Mid-West Regional Authority will be supported in its request that a full impact study be undertaken on the effects of open skies and the measures that will be required to meet the challenges of open skies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32507/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra444 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence (details supplied); his views on same. [32508/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together.
The director of the Mid-West Regional Authority wrote to me on 24 October 2005 regarding open skies between Ireland and the US in the context of the EU-US aviation negotiations which are ongoing and particularly whether I would carry out an impact study on the effects of open skies.
The reply to the director states that I am aware of a number of recent reports such as the Brattle report for the European Commission, the report of the tourism policy review group to the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Air Transport Users Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland report into open skies, which all support moving to open skies with the US and which emphasise the significant benefits to Ireland when this happens. In light of this, I do not believe that a further impact study of this kind is required.
I have made it clear to both the US and the EU that the ongoing EU-US negotiations on an open skies agreement must take account of the need to provide an appropriate transition period for Shannon Airport while also securing early access to additional US destinations so that Ireland, in particular the mid-west region, can reap the benefits of an open skies policy.
445 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he has been briefed on a Bill before the US Congress (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32509/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that Congressman Smith has tabled an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007, which is under consideration by the Houses of Congress in the US. This amendment calls for an economic impact study on the dual gateway policy.
The content of US legislation is a matter for the US Congress. However, several recent reports such as the Brattle Report for the European Commission, the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group to the Minister of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Air Transport Users Council of the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland Report into Open Skies all support moving to open skies with the US and emphasise the significant benefits to Ireland when this happens. In light of this, I do not believe that a further impact study of this kind is required.
The restructuring of the State airports, including Shannon Airport is intended to enhance their regional focus and I am encouraged by the close co-operation between the new Shannon Airport Authority and the other regional development bodies in the area. The recently announced Transport 21 ten-year plan for transport in Ireland will address the future infrastructural requirements of the mid west region. In particular, the plan will link Shannon Airport to the Atlantic road corridor, and will upgrade many of the national secondary routes in the vicinity of Shannon Airport. The plan also provides for the completion of the feasibility study of the Shannon rail link, which is examining linking Shannon Airport to Limerick and Galway. Transport 21 will therefore significantly boost Shannon Airport's catchment area in the west.
I have stated in previous replies, the development of an EU-US open-skies regime provides many opportunities for Shannon Airport to contribute to the development of the mid-west. The liberalisation of the aviation market between the EU and US will mean more, not fewer, opportunities for Shannon to develop new routes into North America.
It has been the consistent policy of this Government that any change in transatlantic arrangements will be accompanied by an appropriate transitional arrangement to enable a smooth phasing in of open skies with the US in the future.
