Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the conclusion of an Open Skies agreement between Ireland and the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35804/06]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Transport the position in relation to the bilateral transatlantic aviation agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35803/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 100 together.

The EU US Open Skies deal was discussed at the Transport Council on 12 October 2006. The Council underlined the importance it attaches to the conclusion of the EU US air transport agreement. It reaffirmed its unanimous satisfaction with the text of the draft agreement negotiated in November, 2005 but regretted the further delay in the US rule-making procedure relating to the ownership and control issue. The November, 2005 text includes the transitional measures relating to Ireland that I had agreed with my counterpart in the U.S. relating in particular to a phased change in the arrangements relating to Shannon.

The Council requested the Commission to continue its efforts, on the basis of further contacts with the United States to secure a satisfactory and balanced outcome with the necessary safeguards, including the transitional provisions, with a view to a decision at the December Transport Council. This would fulfil the commitments set out in the conclusion of the June 2006 EU US Summit in which both parties reaffirmed the commitment to reach agreement by the end of the year.

I again drew attention to the negative consequences of failure to finalise the agreement for those Member States that do not have open skies agreements in place already. I emphasized therefore the urgency of concluding this matter in December. In the meantime the existing arrangements in the Ireland US bilateral agreement will continue to apply.

I have given an undertaking to Aer Lingus that, in the event that an EU US agreement is not achievable within a reasonable timeframe, I intend to seek to implement, in accordance with applicable Community law, the essential elements of the transitional arrangements relating to Ireland by way of an amendment to the Ireland/United States bilateral treaty.