Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his attention has been drawn to the delay in the introduction of a pre-clearance facility for travellers to the US; if he has had discussions with the Department of Transport on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33913/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, primary responsibility for the negotiations on introducing pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports rests with my colleague, the Minister for Transport. As I said previously, the introduction of pre-clearance facilities would have some positive aspects for Irish tourism. If such an agreement could be reached, it would help Dublin and Shannon airports to better position themselves as hubs for US bound flights. Furthermore, such an agreement could in time encourage the development of new routes into Shannon and Dublin airports from some of the smaller American airports.

With regard to the finalisation of an agreement, I understand that significant progress has been made on the issue. Good progress has been made in the interim and I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Transport, is hopeful that this agreement can be concluded in the very near future. Work will then commence on drafting the necessary legislation, which will be introduced as soon as possible.

The Department will continue to liaise closely with the Department of Transport on the issue and when an agreement is finalised, I will encourage all the relevant stakeholders, including the relevant tourist agencies, to take all necessary steps to maximise the potential benefits of the new procedures.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Minister knows I raise this issue every month. As former Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen appreciates the importance of pre-clearance facilities. It was promised these would be in place by the end of this year, but it is clear that will not happen. It was promised to Shannon in the context of open skies to help it capitalise on that. The advantages of open skies have been almost eroded by current events in terms of finance throughout the world, particularly in America. Shannon is concerned that it will lose its advantage to Dublin and that pre-clearance facilities will be available in Dublin as soon as in Shannon. My concern is they will be available in some other country before either Dublin or Shannon. That is a major concern.

The reason I press this issue is there is a real problem emerging in terms of access to Ireland. The Minister is aware tour operators have been falling by the wayside over the summer and that airlines have been pulling out of Ireland. I will not mention the problems in Aer Lingus. There is a genuine fear that other airlines will pull out of Ireland as a result of the shrinkage of the market. If we had pre-clearance facilities ahead of other European countries, that would be a significant benefit in attracting airlines here. Once the pattern of travel is established, it is very difficult to change it. If France gets the facility first, airlines will fly there rather than to Ireland. It is, therefore, important we get it first. Can anything be done to introduce the legislation in advance of the finalisation of the agreement with the US?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, this is an issue with which I am very familiar because I was centrally involved in it as Minister for Transport, and I believe strongly in advancing it. Unfortunately, the difficulties rest with those with whom we have to work rather than with ourselves. A combination of groups, including Ireland and the US as sovereign Governments, are involved in developing the facilities.

The current Minister for Transport sees the benefits arising from an agreement and I have stated on several occasions the importance of putting Shannon in place because this would give the area a kick-start in terms of having the unique selling point of full clearance facilities for Ireland. I understand there is no intention on the American side to look elsewhere in Europe because it is satisfied that Ireland is the best location. Two facilities, Shannon and Dublin, would more than adequately cover the requirements.

I am aware of business people who have decided to transit through Dublin or Shannon to the United States because of the clearance facilities currently available. The Deputy will concur that the new facilities would add greatly to the selling points that Ireland offers. Not only do they offer significant benefits for outbound as opposed to incoming traffic, but they also have great potential in terms of sustaining existing airlines and attracting new long-haul routes.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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We are told that the legislation needed to establish pre-clearance facilities in Dublin and Shannon will not be introduced until next year. British Airways has already announced that it will use London City Airport and Shannon Airport as transit stages for New York. Will the legislation be in place before these flights commence?

I understand other European airports, including Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, are seeking to develop pre-clearance facilities. It is important that the legislation is fast-tracked because Shannon and Dublin need to be established.

Corporate jets provide further opportunities. Approximately 700 corporate jets cross the Atlantic Ocean each week and I understand these will stop at either Shannon or Dublin to get pre-clearance. They will be of significant benefit to my region, particularly given the current turbulence in Aer Lingus. I ask the Minister to press his colleague to fast-track this legislation. I understand that the Irish authorities are holding up progress but that the deal has been done on the American side.

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I assure the Deputy that work had already commenced on the legislation while I was Minister, so there is no question of my colleague being slow in progressing it. The Government is aware of the benefits of this agreement. We will certainly endeavour to establish facilities at Shannon at the earliest opportunity, although the construction work on Dublin Airport will have to be completed before a facility is established there because it will be located in the new terminal building.

I understand that all the major technical and legal issues that have arisen in respect of both the US and Ireland have been resolved and we are now working on minor issues. It is the intention of the Minister for Transport to bring the legislation before the House as soon as it is ready and I am sure all Deputies will want to support that so that the facilities can be opened at the earliest opportunity.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I ask for clarity on the nature of the delay. When I last asked this question in June, I received more or less the same answer. Has anything happened since then? Has the Minister met his counterpart in the United States and what has to happen next in regard to the legislation?

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy can elicit much of that information from the Minister for Transport. I do not wish to avoid her question but I simply do not know who he has met. I know, however, that he is very committed to this issue. I had a conversation with him recently on this and I am almost certain that he has held meetings but I would need to confirm that. A number of technical issues arose that needed to be resolved, although these were not necessarily on our side. One of the main issues is that the global environment for travel and security has changed dramatically. The entire spectrum of requirements in terms of the information flows sought by the US had to be rethought. I assure the House, however, that it is our intention to get Shannon up and running as quickly as possible. This will provide an enormous boost to the airport by making it more attractive to new airlines.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I ask the Minister to ensure his colleague progress the matter.