Minister Dempsey meets Homeland Secretary Napolitano on US CBP

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey met with the US Secretary for Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano to discuss the implementation of full US Customs and Border Patrol clearance. The legislation to implement the agreement from the Irish side is due to be debated in Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) tomorrow, having already passed all stages in Seanad Eireann (the Irish Senate).

During the course of the discussion, Secretary Napolitano said that pre cleared aircraft would be allowed to land at domestic as well as international airports in the US. Secretary Nepolitano also confirmed that the US was committed to pre clearance at Shannon, irrespective of the expected downturn in winter traffic levels to the US from Shannon.

Minister Dempsey said that "Both the US and Irish governments are looking forward to the inauguration of this service, which will commence with commercial flights from Shannon on 29 July while pre clearance for general aviation is scheduled to begin there in the autumn. Both the secretary and I agree that pre clearance will bring great benefits to both our countries."

Department of Transport officials are scheduled to travel to Washington in the coming days to finalise the details on the implementation of the agreement.