John Minihan (Progressive Democrats)

I wish to raise the issue of Britannia Airways, which was chartered by a tour operator to fly from Shannon to Rome with 300 Irish rugby fans for the weekend international. That flight was cancelled at short notice owing to non-payment of the fee by an unlicensed, unbonded operator to the airline. Another operator stepped in, but a spokesperson for the Commission for Aviation Regulation confirmed that the operator was unlicensed and unbonded. When one considers that 300 people paid €400 per head, which comes to €120,000, and that under existing legislation the maximum fine for operating without a licence is €1,500, concerns arise. That is particularly so since members of the public have informed me that the same operator is already taking bookings for the Munster rugby fixture in Biarritz. That is disturbing and I ask that the Leader raise with the Minister the possibility of an urgent review of existing legislation in this regard to ensure that the consumer is protected.