Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Transport when implementation of the proposed economic and tourism development plan for Shannon Airport will begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7274/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The proposed Tourism and Economic Development Plan was initiated in the context of the ongoing EU/US negotiations on Open Skies. In preparing the plan, the Department has consulted with the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and the Department of Finance. A liaison group, established by the Mid West Regional Authority, has separately prepared a report on the future development of the Shannon region as an input to the Plan.

It is hoped to bring the Department's Tourism and Economic Development Plan to fruition in the context of finalisation of the EU/US Open Skies negotiations, which will include transitional arrangements for Shannon. It is expected that a political decision on an EU-US agreement will be considered by the Council of Transport Ministers on 22 March. A positive decision would pave the way for an agreement to be signed at the EU-US summit scheduled for 30 April 2007.