Mr. Willie Walsh:

It lost over €360 million last year and over €100 million in the first quarter of this year. It is not being opportunistic. It is desperate in respect of the measures it is taking, as are airlines across the world, which are faced with very tough decisions. I have been in tough positions before. These are not easy decisions to take. People do not take them lightly. They are looking at the future survival of the airline and must make decisions that can at best guarantee that they can do that.

The Chairman raised a very important issue in respect of the US. The most critical issue for Ireland is getting people from the US travelling to Ireland. I know it would be great to see Irish people travelling to the US. The US has made clear that it will allow its citizens to travel internationally and return to the US without restriction if they have been vaccinated. We could approve that tomorrow but Ireland is saying that if someone is vaccinated and travels to Ireland from the US, he or she will have to pay over €1,800 and we will lock him or her up in a hotel for 12 days, escort him or her there courtesy of the Irish Government and make sure he or she does not leave. That is repressive.