Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Transport when he will negotiate a reformed or new bilateral aviation agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8259/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that, following difficulties on the US side last year, negotiations on an Open Skies Agreement resumed in January 2007, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to the goal of concluding an EU-US agreement that would open access to markets and maximise benefits on both sides of the Atlantic.

Further intensive negotiations were undertaken in Washington and in Brussels over recent weeks. Significant progress has been made and a draft Agreement will be presented to the Transport Council for endorsement on 22 March 2007.

It was confirmed that approval of the Agreement by the Council of Ministers would enable its transitional provisions relating to Ireland to apply with immediate effect.