Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 330: To ask the Minister for Transport the progress made in relation to the establishment of a cargo pre-clearance facility at Shannon Airport, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37355/09]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Transport the support he has provided for the development of a major international cargo hub at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos.330 and 331 together.

I have been informed by the DAA that earlier this year, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lynx Cargo Group, a global airport cargo facility company, to explore jointly the feasibility of developing a major cargo facility at Shannon Airport. Subject to the feasibility study being satisfactory, the DAA advise that it may be possible to advance the project on a joint basis.

The Ireland-U.S. Preclearance Agreement signed by myself and the then U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, on 17 November 2008, does not provide for the preclearance of cargo. However, this is an issue which I raised with Secretary Chertoff at the time and more recently with his successor Janet Napolitano. Both were receptive to giving further consideration to cargo preclearance from Ireland, having regard to experience of passenger preclearance.