Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. As she is aware, this committee has put front and centre of its initial work the issue of testing and getting our aviation sector ready for when safe and increased travel can happen, when, hopefully, our part of the world can knock the pandemic back. I am encouraged by some of the Minister of State's words today. She mentioned it is a good time to start planning for this testing regime. The aviation task force reported in July recommending a testing regime and we have lost that time but Deputy Naughton is the first Minister or Minister of State who has spoken in the Chamber or in committee who seems proactively ready to move forward on this, which is encouraging. I ask that it be moved forward as quickly as possible. This six-week period, as difficult as it is going to be, provides an opportunity when we come out of it for the aviation industry to have this regime in place. This is the missing piece for those involved. The Minister of State said their one request was to protect connectivity but they know they need a testing regime to do that. She said many countries are grappling with the provision of it. Many of them are no longer grappling and have already provided it. We are hoping to welcome next week an individual who assisted Rome airport in rolling out a pretty good testing regime. I hope the Minister of State and her officials will tune in and listen to that. Much has been and will be said on the matter, but it has to be acknowledged that the Minister of State's briefing and opening statement sets out a great deal of money and investment.

On the PSO for public transport, the Minister of State stated that €766 million, which is an eye-watering figure, is available for PSO services throughout the country to ensure such services remain viable given the challenges of a 50% reduction in maximum capacity. With the move to level 5, public transport goes to 25% of capacity. Will that €766 million be enough to retain the viability of those services going into a six-week period of 25% capacity?