Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not have much to add but this is the issue. It knits everything together in the aviation sector, from the travel agents to the airlines. It will keep workers in work. At the moment, I feel safer having someone from Italy, who has availed of a testing regime in an Italian airport, than someone from my home city of Dublin visit my house given the level of community transmission.

That is the way it is. We have said this time and time again. The Minister said he was considering a testing regime in early August. More than two months have passed and the authorities are still silent on the matter. Based on testimony we have received, my personal observation is that there is a blockage at the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, on this. Public representatives and the sector's representative bodies are not asking for travel at any cost. I do not want to see planes put in the air recklessly. I want safe travel with reduced stigma. If I see on social media that someone has gone away, my instinctive reaction is to wonder what they think they are doing. If I knew a testing regime was in place, that feeling would go away instantly. That would allow travel to take off. We are going to be here week after week. We are seeing no signs from the Government that this is going to change any time soon. I am sorry I did not get to Dr. Horn, but the testimony we have just heard is very important.