Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Walsh to this important meeting. The Oireachtas transport committee has had many deliberations trying to get international air travel back up and running and has produced a report on it. Mr. Walsh referred to Professor Ferguson's report on antigen testing, something for which this committee strongly advocates.

Will Mr. Walsh give us an overview on the current air travel restrictions imposed around Europe? How does Ireland measure up in terms of other jurisdictions? Travel to America is currently prohibited. America will not let us in. Obviously, one needs a co-ordinated approach to this and the digital green certificate offers that potential. Work needs to be done on this, however. I agree with the need to open an air corridor between Europe and the US in tandem with the creation of the digital green certificate. Will Mr. Walsh give us an overview of what is happening with regard to air travel restrictions across Europe?

Mr. Walsh is aware of the recent announcement by Aer Lingus, a company with which he is familiar, that it will close its cabin crew base in Shannon. Given his background and his standing in aviation, it is clear Aer Lingus is in a difficult financial position. It has received funding from the State with an Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, loan of €150 million but I understand it is losing approximately €1 million a day. There is a need for a more substantial cash injection to be made to the airline to keep it afloat.

I am advocating that any cash injection deal from the Government to Aer Lingus should come with a proviso that the strategic routes which operate out of Shannon, namely, Heathrow, New York and Boston, are protected. When Aer Lingus was sold to International Airlines Group, IAG, there was a commitment, signed into the articles of association, that the Shannon-Heathrow slots would be protected for seven years. That will expire in September 2022. Would it be justified to seek a further extension, say a ten-year period, of the slots in any deal that would be done with Aer Lingus?