Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Mulholland. As for myself, I will be quick. We fully agree that any State supports that come to Aer Lingus must be conditional on the retention of the base with the staff and also in terms of the Heathrow and transatlantic connectivity out of Shannon Airport. That is key.

Can I ask two quick questions to both Mr. Gerry Clarke and Ms Mary Mulholland because they are in the Shannon base? If cabin crew staff are based in Shannon or they are not based in Shannon, what are the implications for early morning flights to Heathrow and transatlantic flights?

The cabin crew staff have been on the pandemic unemployment payment only for the past number of months at no cost to Aer Lingus because it was provided as a State support to ensure airlines could come through with their staff intact. As Ms Mulholland said, there will be a recovery but we have to be certain that the infrastructure, including the cabin crew, is still based in Shannon. When they went on the PUP payment, what did Aer Lingus say to them? Did Aer Lingus indicate that this situation that has arisen now about the closure of the base might arise or did the company tell them at the time that they were put on the PUP to ensure they could come through intact as an airline with the staff so that Shannon could resume flights? First, does it make a difference having a cabin crew staff based in Shannon and, second, what did the airline tell them at the time when they went on the PUP payment?

We are fully behind the witnesses. We will bring up their points with Aer Lingus and we will take them up with Government as well. It is just those two quick points. I will go to Mr. Clarke first and then Ms Mulholland. I am conscious of the time. We have to be out of here in two minutes.