Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presentations from all concerned. It is good to see representatives of Shannon, Cork and Dublin airports back before us. I compliment them on the work they have done in the intervening period. They have moved pretty fast in addressing the potential for testing. They have provided many answers in advance of the questions being posed today, which is welcome. We can rightly use a considerable amount of information from what we have heard about the situation in Rome. Bearing in mind the earlier session with the airlines, what is coming across to us today, and certainly to me, is that one of the main issues is that no matter what we do, we cannot do so in isolation in Ireland. We either move ahead or stall. Acting in isolation is effectively not going to be of any great benefit because we need to see the harmonised approach at European level. I suggest to the committee that we invite the Minister of State responsible for European affairs or the Minister for Foreign Affairs to our committee in due course to gain an understanding of the progress on achieving a harmonised approach before we conclude our work.

There has been talk of capital investment at Shannon Airport. Operational investment will be required. What is the current financial position? What assistance will be needed in the medium term? It is now quite clear, based on NPHET's advice, that there will not be a lot of activity between now and Christmas in the airports. Ms Considine has already painted a fairly dark picture as to what the early part of next year will be like. Can she outline the financial supports for the airport on which this committee might make recommendations?

Ms Considine has been working with the HSE on trying to find alternative employment for staff during this difficult period to help them to increase their incomes and pay their bills. It is really important. I thank her for the work she has done in this regard. Has she any update on that?

My next question is not relevant to my constituency but I am asking it because this is a transport committee.

Has the DAA looked at assisting staff who have had to take very significant drops in income? Have the witnesses looked at helping them to augment or supplement that through them acting as contact tracers with the HSE?