Mr. Kenneth Spratt:

I thank the Deputy for that. We are staying as tight and as close as we can to the airlines. We are trying to understand the challenges they are facing. They asked us to help them with their engagements with regard to the recent loan they secured. It took quite some time for the discussions and the negotiations on that loan to come to fruition. Thankfully, that loan has now been secured by Aer Lingus. We were happy to help where we could on that, albeit that we did not do a huge amount other than encourage the parties to engage.

Obviously, it is a competitive marketplace. It is a matter for the airlines to do whatever it is they need to do to raise the capital they need should they be able to do that. So far, the airlines with which we have engaged have been able to find their own solutions. It is important for us as civil servants to be mindful of the need to protect public moneys and the public purse and that is something that we are very mindful of. Obviously, our colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform would be very mindful of that as well. While it is the case that we are engaging with the airlines on the challenges they are facing, there is only so much we can do given that it is a competitive marketplace.

As I mentioned at the outset, the solution to the aviation sector is to get the virus under control so that we can get people flying again. That is where the Government's strong efforts are at present. The other two parts of that solution are making sure our airports are fit for present and future purposes, and making sure the airlines continue to fly with some sort of incentive schemes when it is the case that people are able to fly again. We will be working closely with the airlines on that third part of the solution.