Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on Parliamentary Question Nos. 405 and 411 of 6 February 2007 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6879/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have no responsibility for airport taxes or charges. Airlines determine the policy they will practice in situations where people voluntarily cancel flights. Different airlines have different policies in this respect. In most cases airlines will offer refunds only on payment of a service fee.

I must emphasise that the cancellation of a flight by a consumer and the financial consequences of such cancellation is a civil matter under contract law and thus not something for which I have responsibility. I would advise consumers to read the conditions in the contract to make themselves aware of the consequences of cancelling a flight ticket.

I have asked the Director of Consumer Affairs and Executive Chair of the Board of the National Consumer Agency to examine the terms and conditions imposed by different airlines to assess their conformity with consumer legislation including in particular the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations, 1995 (S. I. No. 27 of 1995) and to let me have her views on the matter.