Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will do that but I would prefer there to be a bit of a structure and the correct information. We will then follow up with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the airlines. We would very much welcome it if the Commission for Aviation Regulation was put back inand we strongly recommend that Dr. Horn take the helm there and report back. As a committee, we will look at what should be terms of reference. Our first item of work will be when the Minister appears before the committee next week to discuss the Estimates and we will raise testing issues. Immediately after the mid-term recess, our first item of business will be public meetings about testing. If members agree to that, that is the area we will discuss.

The industry directly employs 140,000 people. We are an island nation and Dr. Horn referred to the impact on business. We want to work within public health guidelines. Covid is with us for the immediate future and we must find a way to operate. In keeping with what Deputy Carey and others have suggested, we should bring in expertise including NPHET and representatives of international airports that have good testing in place. There is no reason that, with virtual conferencing now, we cannot do it. Dr. Horn might correspond with the committee as to what he believes is needed in the terms of reference for a new aviation commission. We take his points on the new aviation policy but that is long term. There are immediate issues with Covid. We would welcome him corresponding with us as a committee and giving a general outline of what he thinks should be the terms of reference of any new, reformed commission for aviation regulation.

The next meeting of the committee will be a private, virtual meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, 20 October 2020, where we will consider all the items that have not been discussed.