“I welcome the initiation of action by Europe in relation to the proposed Cork to US flight but this is far from a result.
This process will take time and the Cork region will likely miss out unnecessarily on a tourism season due to a lack of cooperation from the US authorities.
Business opportunities are being missed and potential valuable tourism is not coming to our region in 2016.
The Irish Government are facilitating the US in other facets including allowing US troops to land in Shannon Airport.
Putting aside whether you agree with Shannon being used for this purpose for a moment, it is true to say that it is a diplomatic concession by the Irish Government to the US Government.
The Irish Government have to now use common sense and approach this issue at the highest diplomatic level. In short our Taoiseach Enda Kenny needs to contact US President Barack Obama and request that his authorities cooperate.
An ‘open skies’ agreement is in place , it is not being honoured, and going through a long drawn out legal process in my opinion is a smoke screen before next week’s election to take the perennial issue that Cork Airport is the only state owned public Airport in Ireland without a transatlantic flight off the radar.
Our Taoiseach needs to act now and call the White House.”
The Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport today said in reply to a press query “The government has made various representations to the US Department of Transportation and to the Department of State, outlining Ireland’s position, at the administrative, diplomatic and political levels. The Government continues to actively put forward its position to the US administration at appropriate opportunities.
The European Commission’s position is that the delay by the US authorities in granting NAI its permit is a breach of the EU-US Open Skies Agreement. The Commission has now stated it will initiate arbitration under the Agreement. This initiative by the European Commission is to be welcomed” The Department of Transport are hopeful that will also help to move the discussions further towards resolution of the matter.