Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Transport the status of negotiations with the USA Government regarding the provision of full custom and immigration clearance at Shannon Airport; and the timescale for roll out of this service. [4825/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2006 my Department has held a number of informal meetings with the US authorities with a view to exploring the scope for upgrading Dublin and Shannon airports to full pre-clearance for US-bound passengers. In December I held meetings with the Secretary and senior officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to discuss the issue further. Shortly after those meetings detailed U.S. proposals for pre-clearance were submitted to my Department. These are currently under consideration by my Department and an Inter-Departmental Group comprised of officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice Equality and Law Reform, the Revenue Commissioners and the Office of the Attorney General, which was set up for this purpose. Formal negotiations on the proposals commenced with the U.S. authorities on 29 January and further meetings are envisaged. Given that the matter is still under negotiation it is too early to say when the service can be rolled out.