Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses for their presentation and engagement with the committee. One of the flaws in the task force's report was that it did not examine the imbalance in our national aviation policy. A dominant Dublin Airport accounts for 86% of all passengers in Ireland. In a post-Covid-19 era, surely we should move away from congestion, giving other airports an opportunity and reinforcing balanced regional development. I do not know if the witnesses are aware of the report Limerick Chamber published last year, which considered this question and looked at other countries that are grappling with this question. A good case in point is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, which is ultra-dominant. The Dutch Government introduced a cap on Schiphol to give other airports a chance. Why did the report not look at that particular measure and does the task force have a view on that? What is the view of the task force on a post-Covid-19 era? Should we endorse a policy of balanced regional development to give other airports such as Shannon Airport an opportunity to grow, develop and be sustainable? It is a driver of economic activity in the western region and it is so important for foreign direct investment and tourism along the western coast. Why did the task force not examine that question or make a recommendation on it?

On the travel agents, the task force has made a strong case. Some 3,500 people are employed in that area. This committee provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those questions and put them out there. As a committee, we need to engage with the airline sector and the Government. Following on from what Deputy Lowry said, if we were to take away two or three recommendations from the task force that we could pursue on its behalf with airlines and the Government, what would they be?