Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I have held discussions on the matter with the US ambassador in recent weeks. Opportunities will be taken at the right time and place and there will be visits in February or March. We do not want a Minister to fly to Washington for an unsuccessful meeting with the US Secretary of State because the groundwork was not done beforehand. The Deputy can rest assured that the Government sees the potential for competitive advantage this offers to our airports. However, we should not over estimate the benefits of pre-clearance. Much of the hype that accompanied the introduction of pre-clearance facilities for passengers has not materialised into additional business. We need to pursue the matter but we should also be realistic about the economic benefits.

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