Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 257: To ask the Minister for Transport if there are opportunities to develop the air freight sector here as an internationally traded service with specialized back office support; and if aviation interests and the enterprise agencies here have carried out any assessment of the opportunities in this sector. [13581/10]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 266: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in view of a recent response from the European Commission which indicates that the Commission would be supportive of the Irish Government investing in the Lynx Cargo project at Shannon Airport, he will make the necessary finance available to invest in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13913/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 266 together.

Responsibility for driving the development of the air freight sector lies primarily with the Dublin Airport Authority, given its mandate with regard to the three State airports. This development will be primarily influenced by airlines' assessment of market potential. Accordingly commercial decisions on specific air services, such as air freight, are essentially matters for the airlines concerned. I am not aware that the European Commission has made a decision on the lines suggested by the Deputy with regard to the proposed Lynx cargo project in Shannon Airport.

The current position with regard to this project is that in 2009 the DAA concluded a memorandum of understanding with the Lynxs Group, a global airport cargo facility company, to explore jointly the feasibility of developing a major cargo facility at Shannon Airport. My Department has recently received the DAA's evaluation of the business case for the project. The DAA has to operate to a commercial mandate and it does not have access to unlimited funds to undertake capital investment. Accordingly, consideration of the best way to support the project will take account of the extent of potential investment by the DAA on foot of its evaluation of the business case and any support that could be provided by the State, subject to compliance with EU state aid rules.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 258: To ask the Minister for Transport his views on the decision of Aer Lingus to lay-off all of its cabin crew; if he has or will contact the board of management about this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13584/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Decisions on commercial and operational matters at Aer Lingus are a matter for the Board and management of the Company and it is not open to the Government to intervene in such matters. Aer Lingus is an independent Company and it has to make decisions on a commercial basis. In a second ballot, the result of which was announced on Friday 26th March, Aer Lingus cabin crew members of IMPACT voted in favour of the company's cost reduction programme. All five union groups at the company have now voted in favour of the programme.