asked the Minister for Transport if, in view of criticisms of airport landing charges, he will publish such charges for the airports under his control with comparable estimates for a range of United States, British and continental European airports.

Landing charges at Irish airports are reviewed annually by Aer Rianta in consultation with the airlines and then submitted for my approval prior to implementation. Since Irish airports are in competition with UK and European continental airports for air traffic, especially North Atlantic transit traffic, my practice in considering proposals for increased charges at Irish airports is to take into account not only the cost considerations on which the proposed increases are based but also the competitive effect on Irish airports vis-à-vis their UK and continental competitors. The relevance of the level of charges at foreign airports varies considerably in this context. The economic and organisational environment of US airports, for example, is different and also varies from one US airport to another, depending on ownership and other factors, so that any comparison with Irish airports is unrealistic. In the European context Irish airports are well down the league table of European airport charges. In this connection, and with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I am circulating with the Official Report a statement elaborating on the position.

Following is the statement:

Table.

League table of airport charges compiled from data published by the Western European Airports' Association.

(Exchange rate based on IR£ — $2.07)

The foregoing figures reflect the position at November 1979. Since then, Irish airport charges have been increased by 11 per cent from 1 April 1980 but charges have also risen at other European airports, so that the net position of Irish airports in the table has not materially altered.