Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2010
308 Deputy Mary Wallace asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the delays and cancellations in relation to the rights and options under the EU regulation 2004 in acting upon refunds, rerouting, care and assistance for passengers that have been impacted by the ash cloud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19985/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulation (EC) 261/2004 established common European rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in the event of cancellation or long delay of flights or in the event of being denied boarding.
The Regulation has direct application in Member States and the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) has been designated as the National Enforcement Body for the Regulation in the State. The CAR is the competent body to enforce the provisions of the Regulation arising from cancellations due to depart from Ireland; for travellers whose cancelled flights were due to depart from other Member States, the relevant national enforcement body will be the body designated by that Member State.
Passengers must apply to their airline in the first instance to claim their entitlements. If airlines do not comply with the law and passengers fail to receive their entitlements, the relevant national enforcement body can then take enforcement action. The list of all EU national enforcement bodies is available on the CAR's website www.aviationregulation.ie along with all other relevant information on the provisions of the Regulation.
