Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1171. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the implications the European Commission’s proposed single European sky have for airports here, the Irish Aviation Authority and Irish aerospace; if there will be any loss of employment or change in employees' terms and conditions as a result of these proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34285/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The EU Single European Sky initiative was initially launched in 2004 and updated in 2009 with the overall aim of improving the efficiency of the way in which airspace across Europe is organised and managed. The latest Commission proposals are designed to improve the implementation of the existing legislation from 2004 and 2009 through certain reforms in institutional arrangements and the provision of air navigation services.

My Department has recently commenced a detailed consultation process of stakeholders in Irish aviation with an invitation to provide comments by 6 September 2013. Comments received will be carefully considered as part of the process of finalising an overall national position to be adopted in the negotiations to take place on these proposals from Autumn onwards. The precise implications of the proposals will of course depend on the final outcome.  I would however draw the Deputy's attention to the fact that Ireland has one of the lowest en route air navigation charges in Europe, which reflects the strong emphasis that the Irish Aviation Authority places on competitiveness and productivity that will equip the IAA well in relation to the further development of the Single European Sky.