Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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748. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has had discussions with business leaders in the United States of America or Norway regarding the proposed Cork to Boston flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20672/16]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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756. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals for the Cork to Boston flights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20673/16]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 748 and 756 together. ​

​On 23 May last the US Department of Transportation concluded a public consultation on its tentative decision to grant the Irish licensed airline Norwegian Air International a foreign air carrier permit. The airline requires such a permit to operate the proposed Cork to Boston route and other routes from Europe to the US.

It is now a matter for the US authorities to decide whether to confirm that tentative decision or not.  I fully support NAI's application and hope that the tentative decision is confirmed as soon as possible, so the airline can start flying to the US in line with the provisions of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement.

I and my Department continue to liaise with the European Commission on the matter. The Commission agrees that the 2½ year delay by the US authorities in making a decision on NAI's permit application is not acceptable and I am confident that the Commission will take the appropriate action under the Agreement to help resolve this dispute.

I have not had the opportunity to have discussions with business leaders in either Norway or the United States on this matter. However, I did make my position clear in my address to the International Air Transport Association at its AGM held in Dublin in June.