Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputies for their positive contributions to the debate on this legislation. Without exception, there was praise for these measures and for the agreement we have made. To the Deputies who queried why it took so long to reach agreement, I remind them that a similar deal with Canada took seven years to negotiate. I spoke to various members of Congress in the United States and people who were involved in various lobbying campaigns, and they were all amazed that the agreement was concluded so quickly. The reason for this was the commitment of both sides and the relationship that exists between our two countries, including our affinity in terms of aviation policy generally, as referred to by so many Deputies. In particular, the link between Shannon and the United States was often mentioned to me during the negotiations.

Deputies O'Dowd, Kitt, Broughan and others asked about the cost of these measures. The capital cost of providing preclearance facilities at Shannon Airport will be approximately €20 million. Deputies from that region will be aware of the work that is ongoing in this regard and which will be completed in July. The best estimate we have for Dublin Airport, where the facilities will be provided as part of the T2 project, is that it will cost approximately €30 million. In regard to operational costs, the various agencies that are involved, including the Garda, Customs and Excise, airport authorities, Revenue and so on, are being asked to work within existing resources. The cost of retaining customs and border patrol personnel is a matter for the United States authorities and involves no cost to the Exchequer.

Deputy O'Dowd asked why a regulatory impact assessment was not undertaken. It was not considered necessary in this case because the legislation does not require an addition to regulation. Deputies Breen and Broughan asked about the charges to passengers. The charge at Shannon Airport will be €10.50 per passenger but the charge at Dublin is not yet known. This cost is based at Shannon, as it will be at Dublin, on the economic costs of providing the necessary services. The decision in regard to the level of costs is one for the airport authorities themselves rather than for the customs and border patrol, the airlines or the Minister for Transport.

Almost every Deputy who spoke pointed out that this measure represents a wonderful opportunity for the Shannon region and the mid-west in general. I agree it is vital that all of this should be marketed. It is the Government's job to provide the best possible conditions in which businesses must operate. We did this by providing the new preclearance facility in the mid-west. As many Deputies on all sides have freely acknowledged, this has provided Shannon Airport with a competitive advantage. Rather than looking elsewhere for salvation, the airport should continue to pursue the approach I have observed in various visits to the facility in the past 12 to 15 months. This is exemplified by the establishment of Atlantic Way and the coming together of many organisations in the mid-west region to help themselves.

The Government has provided a preclearance facility which gives the region competitive advantage. It is now up to the region to make use of and capitalise on this facility because the competitive advantage it offers will not last forever. In this regard, Deputy Broughan asked when a preclearance facility at Dublin Airport will come on stream. This is due by the end of next year with the opening of T2. Shannon Airport's advantage over Dublin Airport in terms of preclearance facilities will last for 12 to 15 months and both airports will have a considerable time advantage over all other airports in Europe because they will have the only preclearance facilities in Europe for some time.

While I concur with Deputies opposite on the need for marketing, this is a task for the mid-west region. It is being done by Tourism Ireland and Shannon Airport. Shannon Airport Authority, for instance, is actively promoting the customs and border patrol, not only for commercial flights but also for the private jets to which many Deputies referred. It is a question of getting up and going.

A number of Deputies referred to a promise to provide €53 million for marketing Shannon Airport and the mid-west region. No such promise was made.

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