Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think Mr. Wilson is quite wrong. I disagree with him because what it really shows is that this disease is accelerating in the northern hemisphere. The World Health Organization commented upon that yesterday. More than 650,000 people around the world have died and 16.5 million people have been infected. I think the approach taken by Mr. Wilson and Mr. Doyle is wrong. The Government clearly acknowledges the importance of the aviation industry. The CEO of Aer Lingus was particularly wrong when he stated that "There is not a clear understanding of the scale of the crisis or indeed its significance for the Irish economy and its future recovery." That is balderdash, Mr. Aer Lingus. We are very much concerned about it. In fact, the whole country is concerned about it but, in his commentary, Mr. Doyle does not seem to be concerned. Nowhere in the Aer Lingus submission can I find any mattes relating to health. This is about public health. It is about keeping people safe. It is about protecting families and businesses obviously but it is about reaching an acknowledgement. The airlines are challenging the best medical and public health advice in this country, which they have every right to do, advice that has proved to be fantastic in terms of saving lives. I think the airlines' approach is wrong. I would like to support them when they talk about the additional support they need from Government.

If, however, the airlines do not acknowledge the importance of our public health advice and the way we are fighting this disease, they are not being realistic.