Ms Ethna Brogan:

We have written to all of the Irish licensed airlines and have received quite substantial views from the main carriers. We are also aware of the general views held by the international associations which represent airlines, such as the International Air Transport Association, IATA, ELFAA, which represents low-cost carriers, the Association of European Airlines, IACA and a number of other representative groups. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar, recently met the director general of IATA, and it was one of the issues raised with the Minister as the organisation has some concerns about it.

Generally, the proposal has been welcomed by the industry. In the context of the response of the Irish airlines, in general they have welcomed the attempts to clarify the existing law under regulation 261 in many areas. Of course, they have some concerns about how far the proposal will go in terms of rights to assistance, compensation, etc.