Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with his EU and UK counterparts regarding retaining the single aviation market when the UK exits the European Union; and his views on the position the Government should take in a renegotiation or change to the EU open skies policy. [30169/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​Aviation services between the UK and Ireland and within the EU operate within the EU Single Aviation Market. When the UK leaves the EU, an alternative aviation agreement between the UK and the remaining 27 EU Member States will be required. 

I have had a number of meetings with my EU counterparts, UK counterparts and the European Commissioner on Brexit, most recently at the Transport Council in Luxembourg. These meetings were extremely useful in promoting an understanding of transport and tourism Brexit implications for Ireland.

The full implications for Ireland of the UK leaving the single aviation market will only become apparent as formal Brexit negotiations develop.

The aviation sector is critical to Ireland.  As an island nation with an open economy, air connectivity is essential for our trading relationships, for all of our industries especially tourism, manufacturing and retail, and for our participation in the global economy generally. Ireland's priority for aviation will be to protect a fully liberalised and deregulated market in order to ensure no erosion of our connectivity or disruption to airlines, airports, business, tourism and personal travel.

In advance of formal negotiations on the specifics of an alternative aviation agreement between the UK and the European Union, it is clear that the consideration may be given to possible transitional or interim arrangements to ensure that existing traffic rights are agreed in a timely fashion. In this manner if a replacement agreement cannot be agreed within the timeframes specified by Article 50 any such arrangements will help to bridge the gap between a withdrawal agreement and an agreed future relationship with the UK to bring certainty to the aviation sector and ensure continuity of vital air services.