Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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1615. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has formally met with the CEOs of all of the regional airports to discuss the impact of Brexit on tourism and the aviation industry here; if so, the dates of these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38660/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I met with representatives of Waterford and Farranfore Airports while visiting the regions on 13 February 2017 and 19 April 2017 respectively, during which a range of issues were discussed. I did not specifically meet with those airports to discuss Brexit matters.

Issues arising as a result of the UK's plans to leave the EU are being managed on a whole-of-government basis, with overall responsibility resting with the Department of An Taoiseach. My Department is represented on the Economy and Trade Group and also on the Aviation and  Tourism sub-groups under these structures. Officials of my Department are in close liaison with the aviation sector, including airlines and airports, to assess the implications of Brexit on that sector.

Airlines and airports, including representatives of the regional airports, among other aviation stakeholders, as well as my Department are represented on the National Civil Aviation Development Forum Working Group on Regulatory Affairs. This Group has extensively considered the aviation implications of Brexit and has met with the Department's representative on the Interdepartmental Group of Senior Officials to discuss the concerns of the aviation industry. Representatives of the Group have also met with senior officials in the Department of the Taoiseach in relation to those concerns. The outcome of these consultations informs the analyses of the Department and feeds into the overall analyses of Government.