Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will report on the progress to date in progressing the extension to the US customs and border protection facility at Shannon Airport; if he expects these negotiations to be finalised during the term of the current US administration; when he expects legislation to come before the Houses of the Oireachtas in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39869/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress continues to be made between Irish and US officials towards the conclusion of an Inter-Governmental Agreement between our two countries on the introduction of pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon Airports. I hope to be in a position to sign this agreement in the near future.

When the agreement is in place, work will then commence on drafting the necessary legislation which will be introduced as soon as possible. As I have stated previously it is my hope that the timing of construction of the new CBP facility at Shannon can be aligned with the passage of the legislation to the extent that it is practical and feasible to do so.