Mr. Liam Berney:

I have attended this committee previously when we have spoken about aviation and the perilous situation in which it finds itself. The decision by Aer Lingus to close its cabin crew base in Shannon Airport, as well as the more recent decision of Stobart Air to cease trading in the Republic of Ireland, along with the implications of that, brings into sharp focus what we have been trying to point out for a number of months, namely, aviation will be one of the last sectors to emerge from and recover fully from the pandemic, if it ever does.

We need to be focused on what particular supports are required to keep a functioning aviation sector in the economy. As an island economy, we rely crucially on aviation for connectivity, business and many other purposes. We need to be mindful that decisions could well be taken outside of the country about companies that operate in the aviation sector. The Oireachtas and trade unions with members in those companies will have little or no say in this. Shareholders and multinational companies may well decide that keeping an aviation business in Ireland that continues to make losses is not something they are prepared to do.

Much has been said about the aviation sector. Yesterday, the Minister for Transport spoke about the ending of the restrictions on non-essential travel on 19 July. Even after that date, supports will be required for the aviation sector. Deputy Bruton asked earlier about an appropriate place for the piloting of a short-term working scheme. Aviation would be a perfect fit for that. It will take some time for workers in aviation to get back to the level of activity that they would have been involved in prior to the pandemic.

Shannon Airport has been significantly challenged for quite some time. A decision was taken by a previous Government to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority. That was a mistake. We said so at the time. We believe the reintegration of the three State airports into a single company would be the best way to protect Shannon Airport in the future.