asked the Minister for Transport if he is prepared to grant licences to additional airlines to operate services between Shannon and London and Shannon and continental Europe.

9.

asked the Minister for Transport if he will accede to the request by Dan Air to provide an early morning and late night return service from Shannon Airport to London.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together.

The operation of scheduled air services to and from Ireland is governed by Inter-Governmental Bilateral Air Services Agreements. Subject to the terms of the relevant agreement, I am prepared to consider any proposals for additional scheduled services between Shannon and points in Continental Europe.

Designation of an additional carrier to provide scheduled Shannon-London services would fall to be processed within the terms of the UK-Ireland Bilateral Air Services Agreement. As is the case for the Dublin-London route, the agreement provides that the Shannon-London route may be operated by one carrier from each country. At present Aer Lingus and British Airways provide scheduled services on the route.

Has the Minister received an application from Dan Air and from Laker Airways?

I am not aware of any application from Laker Airways. I am aware that Dan Air are interested in the route.

Would the Minister indicate his encouragement of Dan Air on the route in view of the inability of the existing carriers to service the traffic on the route?

I am not aware of the ability or lack of ability of the existing carriers. With regard to Dan Air, as I said in reply to the question, the position is covered by the UK-Ireland Bilateral Air Services Agreement. I understand that this agreement provides that this route may be operated by only one carrier from each country. As there already is a carrier from each country on the route my advice is that a second carrier from the other side or from our side would be precluded.

Would the Minister consider having the bilateral agreement amended to allow two carriers from a particular country in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the present service?

One would have to establish that the present service was unsatisfactory before embarking on something as fundamental as amending an international agreement.

Could the Minister indicate if Dan Air have also an interest in the Dublin-London, Gatwick, route?

Yes, I can so confirm to the Deputy and the same difficulties arise there.

Is the Minister aware that contradictory information in reply to a similar supplementary was given here last week on the Minister's behalf?

What information is the Deputy talking about?

Information contradictory to what the Minister has said now.

I am not so aware.

That has happened.

Would the Minister agree that the company are anxious to provide this service and that Shannon airport could do with extra passengers at this time in view of its financial situation?

I am well aware of the need for generating further traffic in Shannon and I would have no objection to further traffic there but, as I indicated to Deputy O'Malley and to Deputy Kemmy in the original reply, the position is covered by an international agreement.