asked the Minister for Transport the action he proposes to take within the context of the European Community to co-ordinate and improve the present system of air traffic control within the jurisdiction of the Community, including the proposed three new member states with a view to improving efficiency in air traffic movement with consequent reduction in air flight costs and if he will make a statement on the matter.

In addition to the EEC this problem is receiving attention at international level within ICAO ( International Civil Aviation Organisation), ECAC (the European Civil Aviation Conference), and Eurocontrol. The European Parliament adopted in 1979 a resolution on the promotion of an efficient European air traffic management and control system.

The Deputy can take it that my Department fully participates in the work of the international bodies concerned in efforts to develop an improved European air traffic system.

What steps has the Minister taken since coming to office as Minister for Transport to speed up and enlarge discussions that had taken place in this complex area?

I am meeting with my opposite number in Germany next month to discuss the possibility of setting up a supra-national air control space centre.

Is this in addition to Eurocontrol, parallel to it or will Eurocontrol be dropped?

It is in association with the resolution adopted by the European Parliament where they feel that this problem should be looked at on a supra-national basis. I cannot say about Eurocontrol because I do not have that information with me.

Does the Minister mean that the European Economic Community will control their own air space to the exclusion of countries that are not members of the Community? Eurocontrol at the moment control some of the countries in the EEC plus some outside. Will the EEC take over the control of all their air space?

This is only a discussion on the resolution adopted by the European Parliament.

Question No. 11.

If the Minister is meeting his opposite member in Germany they must have some objective in view. The Minister referred to a supra-national air space control, what does that mean?

That is one of the suggestions put forward in the resolution of the European Parliament and it is only one of the items on the agenda for discussion.

What do those words mean?

It means a supra-national power. That may never be reached; it is only at discussion stage.

Question No. 11.

Does the Minister mean that one power is more important than another or are a number of powers engaged——

I have called No. 11. We have been on this for the last five minutes.

The Minister has put on the record something that I do not understand and I am not sure if anybody else understands it. Does the Minister mean——

We cannot spend all day on it.

——a number of other nations and if so what nations? If Eurocontrol is to be dismantled as a result of this we should know, because Eurocontrol has been an extremely valuable organisation.

We are having argument now.

I have not said that Eurocontrol will be dismantled.

If something else is being set up——

I have called No. 11.

Minister and Deputies, I have called Question No. 11.

Have we finished with question No. 10?

Yes, about five minutes ago. We are going back and forward. Question No. 11.

Could I ask the Tánaiste——

I do not understand what is being discussed and I give notice that I would like to raise this on the adjournment.

Deputies, please, I have called No. 11.

The Chair has called No. 11. Surely Deputy Barry should let up.

On a point of order, am I correct in recalling that when question No. 10 was asked, immediately the answer was given we were referred back to question No. 9 so there was no chance to ask a supplementary?

Nobody raised any supplementary on it but if Deputy Kelly wishes to raise a supplementary I will allow him.