Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the strategic importance or otherwise of Aer Lingus' landing slots at Heathrow Airport, London, England; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32127/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Historically, much connectivity was provided to/from Ireland via Heathrow Airport because routes from Ireland to Heathrow were amongst the earliest to be developed. However, other options are available now with a wide range of connectivity options available through other hubs in Europe and the US and through new hubs in the Gulf Region which now have direct services to/from Ireland.

It is important to state that the State does not own nor has it control over landing or take-off slots at Heathrow Airport. Access by airlines to landing and take-off slots at EU airports where there are capacity limitations, including Heathrow, is governed by EU Regulations. Aer Lingus has access to quite a large number of slots at London Heathrow on the basis of 'grandfather rights', that is, it has acquired the rights to these slots because it has been operating services to Heathrow for a long number of years and before Heathrow became as congested as it is today. More recently, Aer Lingus has also acquired additional slots. However, Aer Lingus and any other airline, cannot hold slots in perpetuity unless they comply with the requirements of the EU Regulations governing the allocation of slots.

Aer Lingus can use the slots it currently has access to at Heathrow for whatever services it wishes; the Government's minority shareholding does not allow it to dictate what services the slots are to be used for. Neither is the minority shareholding sufficient on its own to prevent Aer Lingus from disposing of Heathrow slots should it choose to do so.