Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Holohan and Dr. De Gascun for all of their work. It is really valued. I thank them for keeping us safe and informed and working with the population.

We have had a series of meetings on this topic. We have been very slow to move on it. Germany, Italy and Austria have moved on international air travel. As the witnesses will appreciate, aviation is an economic driver in our country. I am from County Clare and Shannon Airport is very important to business and tourism in the region. We need to get the balance right. There are 80 aviation-related companies in the Shannon area, all of which are dependent on aviation.

The EU moved to try to reopen international travel in the summer. We lost a lot at that point in that we did not introduce rapid testing at our airports. As the witnesses will be aware, the DAA and Shannon Airport have put a proposal to the Department of Transport on the introduction of a testing regime. Has NPHET considered that? If so, what is its view on it?