Access costs and routes for tourists
Mitchell asked how the Government would build on recent reductions in access fares and expand routes to Ireland. Wilson cited new fares and routes, charter arrangements and liberalisation agreements, with progress in Germany and France; the exchange also included brief procedural interruptions.
I am sure the Minister would agree that access transport costs are a key factor in improving tourism and he has already recognised what has been done in that area during the past four or five years. Can he tell the House what further plans he has to build on the progress of the past four or five years, in relation to reducing access prices and increasing the number of access routes to this country?
Comment on this
If the Deputy wishes I will give him a very substantial list of new fares, new routes, a new charter agreement which has been introduced allowing a certain mix with the charter people of ordinary passengers on a west to east basis so far as the United States is concerned; and the new agreement signed with Lord Brabazon of Tara during the year, which is a headline in liberalisation for the rest of Europe and which the Europeans are being told about. All of these factors have tended to bring down access fares. I realise what the Deputy did in this regard when he was Minister and I think I have built a very effective superstructure on that.