Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I confirm I am in the campus of Leinster House. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has committed to meeting the Shannon Airport Oireachtas group later this week to discuss the issues on the appointment of the chair of the Shannon Group. I very much welcome this and I look forward to the Minister honouring this commitment. We are an island nation and air connectivity is critical. Several weeks ago, we heard from the Irish Air Line Pilots Association, IALPA, which made the point that last year was extremely difficult for the aviation industry and a second year with very little revenue coming in will be fatal for the industry. Its representatives also made the point that other jurisdictions and governments have stepped up and capitalised airlines.

Lufthansa got €10 billion, Air France got €7 billion and BA got €2.5 billion. Even the UK Government has provided Ryanair with a loan of €670 million, given the impact and the influence that airline has on its economy. I welcome the fact the State has offered or given a loan to Aer Lingus over three years but there is need for State intervention and capitalisation of our airlines, Aer Lingus and Ryanair. I ask Mr. Spratt has he had engagement with the airlines in this regard. To what extent will the Department capitalise airlines to make sure they survive because they are in terminal decline and are burning cash? The reality is we will not have an airline industry unless we have State support. That approach has been taken by other jurisdictions. I would like to hear from Mr. Spratt on that.