asked the Minister for Transport and Power the number of requests for passenger charter aircraft landings in Ireland received by his Department from North American scheduled carriers and non-scheduled carriers during 1975; and the number of these requests that were (a) approved and (b) rejected.

North American carriers submitted applications for 246 passenger charter flights to Ireland in 1975, 81 being submitted by scheduled carriers and 165 by non-scheduled carriers. All of these applications were granted apart from ten of the flights proposed by non-scheduled carriers, which were refused because they were on the scheduled routes and the scheduled carriers had the required capacity to operate the charters on the dates in question. In addition to the above charters operated by North American carriers, Aerlínte operated 48 charters from North America to Ireland in 1975.

Would the Minister agree we should withdraw the Jumbos and other aircraft which Aer Lingus have leased to foreign airlines and put them into charter service in order to increase the number of tourists?

That is a separate matter.

That is a separate question and, if the Deputy is interested in an answer, I suggest he address the question to the appropriate Minister.