asked the Minister for Transport if there has been Government response to the EEC Commission's memorandum on the Development of Air Services in the Community, and the measures he intends to take in support of the Community's efforts to reduce the level of air fares in Europe.

The EEC Commission's memorandum referred to by the Deputy was published in July 1979 and the Governments of all member states, including Ireland, gave their initial reactions to the memorandum at the Council of Transport Ministers' meeting in Brussels on 6 December 1979. The Government welcomed the memorandum as a discussion document which contained a comprehensive presentation of important issues in the sphere of air transport and outlined possibilities for a community approach to the development of air transport services. The memorandum is now being examined by a special council working group on which Ireland is represented.

It is in the interest of the industry as well as the travelling public that air fares be as low as can be sustained, having regard to the need for the economic viability of the airlines. This is my policy on fares and I am prepared to support any new services directed towards this end.

Do the Government support that section of the memorandum which sets out to reduce air fares into Europe? If so, have they publicly declared their support?

I would like to tell the Deputy that discussions have only commenced on this document. They are ongoing. There are meetings every month and when final situations have been evolved I will certainly make a statement on them.

Do the Government support that part of the memorandum?

There are many other aspects in it. There are nine points involved in the area the Deputy is talking about and they are all being taken together.

That is the most essential part.

As I said, discussions are taking place and when final decisions have been reached the Deputy will hear from us.

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