asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the outcome of his recent meeting with President Nixon and Mr. Rogers regarding the landing rights issue.

66.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any discussions with US authorities regarding the future of Shannon Airport.

67.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make an up-to-date statement with regard to the position of Shannon Airport and the landing rights question with the US airlines and the arrangements made by his Department and the American officials with regard to flights in and out of American airports.

68.

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the present position regarding the demand by the US carriers for landing rights at Dublin Airport; and whether the Government have made representations to or held any discussions with the US Government on the matter since July, 1972.

With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66, 67 and 68 together.

I made a full exposition of the Government's position on this question at my recent meeting with the President of the United States and his Secretary of State. I am satisfied that all levels of the United States Government are now fully informed in the matter, particularly in the wider policy context.

I await the response of President Nixon who has undertaken to give the matter his personal attention.

The Minister is to be commended on his success in having met the United States President. Could he give us any indication whether he got any firm commitment from President Nixon? Pious platitudes to the effect that the President will take a personal interest in this matter are not much use at this stage. Did the Minister seek any commitment from President Nixon or did he get any evidence that President Nixon might intervene in a positive way in this issue? Did he get any commitment from him?

I think the Deputy will accept that there is no question of pious platitudes as far as I am concerned. This has been a very long and difficult road. We have now placed the matter in the hands of the President of the United States and I think we will have to await his decision on the matter. Anything we say at this time would not necessarily help the situation.

Did the President appear to be sympathetic towards the Shannon case?

The President now has a very full view of the Government's policy about Shannon Airport and the west of Ireland as well as the other considerations. He is fully aware of the whole picture now.

I accept that.

And the next time he comes to Ireland he will come into Dublin.