Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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615. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way his aviation plans for fair competition will work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49395/14]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The draft National Aviation Policy was published in May 2014. The draft policy proposes that a liberal approach should be taken by my Department to any requests from non-EU and non-US airlines to serve routes to/from Ireland where there is a clear benefit for Ireland and the travelling public. The proposal also refers to the need to take account of EU criteria on fair competition. EU policy in relation to fair competition in the aviation market is evolving and will be taken account of in future decisions.

Submissions in response to the draft policy were invited up to the end of July and over 70 were received. The issue of fair competition is a live one in international aviation at present and many of the submissions touched on this issue. The new National Aviation Policy is currently being finalised and will be published early in the New Year.