asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if he has received an application from Aer Lingus to operate services from Waterford airport to London; and, in view of their performance in recent times on the Dublin-Manchester route, if he intends to grant them permission to operate such services.

I have received no application from Aer Lingus to operate services between Waterford and London.

There was a rumour that an application was going into the Department. Would the Minister entertain it if he received such an application, in view of what happened on the Dublin-Manchester route?

I answered the question for the Deputy some time ago about the Dublin-Manchester service. That was a specific and special matter. I indicated that to the Deputy at the time. I forget whether it was in an oral or a written answer.

It was written.

Aer Lingus did have fifth freedom traffic rights from Manchester into the seventies but the British Government deprived them of them. They are now operating fifth freedom rights from Manchester into five different European cities as a result. It is a slightly different matter. My answer still stands with regard to the Waterford route.

Does the Minister realise that in the Dublin-Manchester instance the whole exercise was designed purely to put Ryanair out of business on that route? Does he accept that?

I do not think so. I think that Aer Lingus wanted to get the fifth freedom services going, which they did to five different European cities including Copenhagen and Hamburg.