Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The French air traffic controllers have gone on strike 12 times in the past 13 weeks. Some 30,000 travellers had their flights cancelled in one day in Ireland and 100,000 travellers the following day had their flights delayed. Many Irish people plan to holiday over the next couple of months and this will also affect tourism into Ireland. People travelling from all parts of Europe coming to Ireland will depend on French airspace. Perhaps the Minister will outline what is the Government stance on the situation? Last Saturday we watched the Ireland team playing in France; did the Minister have an opportunity to speak to somebody there about the strikes? If it is going to continue it would be a problem for the whole summer.