Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will end the Shannon stopover; and if so, the steps he will take to ensure that the level of economic activity is expanded and that jobs are protected. [30255/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, negotiations are ongoing between the EU and US with a view to reaching an open skies agreement by the end of this year. The next set of EU-US negotiations is scheduled for 14-18 November in Washington, after which it is expected that a draft agreement will be discussed at the meeting of Transport Ministers in Brussels on 5 December.

We need certainty for Shannon on this issue. Increased access to the US under open skies will provide significant benefits to Irish tourism, trade, economic growth and aviation, leading to more — not fewer — opportunities for Shannon to develop new routes into North America. I am convinced that Shannon, with the right cost base for the airport and with the proper competitive environment, can maintain and grow its transatlantic business. However, I am equally clear that Ireland must obtain the best possible transition for Shannon to enable a smooth phasing in of open skies arrangements with the US in the future. Accordingly, as I have indicated to the House on many occasions, it is my clear intention that any such agreement will include an appropriate transitional arrangement for Shannon airport that will be agreed between Ireland and the US for inclusion in the EU-US deal. I will be raising this issue directly with the US Secretary of State for Transportation, Mr. Norman Mineta, in the coming weeks.