John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Transport the details of recent EU negotiations to develop an open skies policy between the US and the EU; his proposals regarding the stopover at Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28838/05]

Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the meeting of the Council of EU Transport Ministers on 6 October 2005; and the outcome of discussions on an EU-US open skies agreement. [29072/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 154 together.

The meeting of the Transport Council on 6 October 2005 unanimously agreed with the European Commission that the time was now right for the resumption of negotiations with the US. The previous talks had ended in a failure to reach agreement in June 2004. The main issues where agreement could not be reached were market access, ownership and control issues, and issues such as state aid and security.

However, since then, both sides have maintained contact at official level and have explored ideas that could lead to the reopening of official negotiations. The European Commissioner dealing with transport, Mr. Jacques Barrot, indicated that the US is considering unilateral moves on ownership and control, outside of the EU-US process, and that this could lead to movement in other areas and could bring about a real chance for success. Formal negotiations recommenced on 17 October 2005 in Brussels and Ireland has a representative at those discussions. Another session is planned for Washington in November, with a view to bringing an agreement to the Transport Council on 5 December 2005 for approval.

As I have made clear to the House on many occasions, it is my clear intention that any such agreement will include an appropriate transitional arrangement for Shannon Airport to be agreed between Ireland and the US in the lead up to the conclusion of the EU-US deal.