Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1636. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the parameters of the discussions held with ministerial colleagues at the informal meeting of Ministers for Transport in Vilnius, Lithuania from 15 to 16 September 2013; if he will detail any agreements reached; if he will provide an update on matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37419/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOwing to a prior commitment, I was unable to attend this meeting but Ireland was represented at official level. The Council discussions on this issue on Monday the 16th of September 2013 were of an informal nature and were arranged for the purposes of holding a preliminary exchange of views on the Commission’s proposals. No decision or agreement was scheduled to be reached at this Informal Council. A wide-ranging discussion was held during which the objectives of the Single European Sky were fully endorsed and supported. There was however a prevailing view that the Commission’s proposals are somewhat premature and that insufficient time is being given to allow existing legislative measures to be fully implemented. In these circumstances, there is accordingly a doubt on the supplementary value of introducing additional legislative measures at this point towards the achievement of the Single European Sky.
In relation to further discussions on these proposals in the short-term, the position in this respect remains to be clarified as the Lithuanian EU Presidency already has a comprehensive programme of other important matters on its agenda.
