Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Walsh for addressing the committee today. He has a unique perspective on the aviation industry given his history with our flag carrier, with IAG and in his current role. I totally agree with his points on believing the science. We have a vaccination roll-out that is working and in which people have confidence. We have PCR testing that has been the gold standard for more than a year, since the start of the pandemic. We had the report by Professor Ferguson, the findings of which in terms of antigen testing and what needs to be done in that regard were discussed and endorsed by this committee. We have more than a year of global learning on personal behaviour and how to live with this virus. That needs to be taken on board. What Ireland went through last December, January and February was unique to Europe at the time and decisions were made during that period that were quite restrictive. Given where we are with the science, we now need a roadmap out of those restrictions. On mandatory hotel quarantine, for example, we need a roadmap to wind it down to be a measure of last resort. We have the science, vaccinations and testing capacity in place to make that happen and it needs to be done.

I have a couple of questions for Mr. Walsh. In regard to testing, this committee - as well as the Covid committee, of which I was also a member - has done a huge amount of work on trying to promote a testing regime within our airports and the aviation industry. We were always met with a rebuff from the Government on that.

Can Mr. Walsh comment on his view of the calls for airport and aviation testing and those kinds of options that he sought over the past year and the impact of that?

Second, could the Government here have done more to protect jobs in Aer Lingus in terms of the supports that were given? Conditionality in respect of job protection was specified in, for example, Germany, Spain and France, in return for state supports. I am asking that question in the context of how Aer Lingus operates within the IAG family of airlines. I am not saying that it is a simple thing but could more have been done to protect the jobs that have been lost in the context of supports that were given, such as a loan of €150 million given from ISIF, to Aer Lingus?

Finally, on the digital green certificate which is something we all want to see work well, does Mr. Walsh have any concerns as to the European capacity for an effective ICT regime to ensure this works well from the outset? This is all about having confidence in this certificate from early on because we all want to support it and get it off the ground. I would appreciate Mr. Walsh’s comments and answers on those issues and I thank him.