TRANSPORT MINISTER Darragh O’Brien said he “won’t be dragging his feet” in getting the airport passenger cap removed, but side-stepped questions today about whether it would be embarrassing for Ireland if the matter was raised with the Taoiseach when in the Oval Office this St Patrick’s Day. 

Two airline heavy-hitters, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary and former CEO of both Aer Lingus and British Airlines, Willie Walsh, have warned in recent days that American airlines are deeply unhappy with the cap, which is curtailing their business in Ireland. 

Airlines for America, a trade group representing major US carriers, such as American Airlines, United and Delta, have filed complaints against Ireland with the US Department of Transportation, stating that Dublin Airport’s 32-million passenger cap violates transatlantic air agreements.

In an interview with the Business Post over the weekend, Walsh said he believes the Taoiseach “is going to have a very interesting meeting with the US president when he goes to the White House, because without question, this will be raised unless there’s a clear signal that this cap is going to be removed”. 

While he said the complaint filed by the American airlines doesn’t specifically name Aer Lingus, he said they are the only Irish registered airline that flies into the US. He questioned if transatlantic flights could face disruption or even suspension.

Walsh said the Trump administration is going “to bat for US industry, and they will treat this, I believe, in a very serious way”. 

Speaking on Newstalk last week, O’Leary made similar comments, stating that the situation might escalate to a point where Trump raises the issue with the Taoiseach in the White House, in front of the world’s media. 

The Journal asked the transport minister today if such an incident would be an embarrassment to the country, and whether the Taoiseach is prepared for such an eventuality. 

“I’m not going to speculate what the discussions may be between the Taoiseach and the President of the United States,” he said. 

In relation to Walsh’s comments, the transport minister said detailed drafting of the legislation is being done.

“I want to get it done as quickly as possible,” he said, stating that it needs to be robust as he envisages that the legislation itself will be challenged.

“So we’ve got to make sure that it is legally robust, and it will be, and we won’t be dragging our feet on it,” he said.

In relation to Walsh’s views about US connectivity with airlines, the minister said he has met Aer Lingus before and he will meet them again.

The minister said he met Airlines for America and the government responded to the complaint that was made in a very detailed way.

“We don’t agree with everything that their complaint says, by the way,” he said, adding that his job as minister is to get the cap removed “as quickly as possible”.