Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 151: To ask the Minister for Transport if the business plan for Shannon Airport is near completion; and if he will report to Dáil Éireann on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32721/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon as an independent airport. As part of the airport restructuring process the board of Shannon airport is required to prepare a business plan for eventual separation. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied that all three State Airports have the capacity to operate on a sound commercial basis before giving final approval to the business plans.

The agreement of the DAA will be central to the conclusion of the business planning processes for Shannon and Cork airports. The Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has recently submitted its business plan to the DAA and I understand that discussions have now commenced between the DAA and the SAA on the plan's content. Subject to satisfactory progress being made in these discussions, I await DAA's overall considered views on airport separation to enable the plans to be examined by me and the Minister for Finance.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress to date on plans for the expansion of the US customs and border protection facility at Shannon Airport; if legislation is required to facilitate the extension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32722/07]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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For some time my Department has been in informal discussions with the U.S. authorities on the introduction of full pre-clearance facilities for U.S. bound passengers at Dublin and Shannon Airports. The operation of these facilities would be subject to an Inter-Governmental treaty to be concluded between the two countries and the advice I have received is that this would require new legislation. Last week I met with Secretary Chertoff of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to discuss the matter further and I expect to receive the detailed U.S. proposals for pre-clearance in the near future.