Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My thanks go to Ms Embleton and Mr. Moriarty. I wish to deal with the issue of opening up. The Aer Lingus representatives spoke about antigen testing. We had Dr. Holohan before the committee. His statement was that there was insufficient evidence. He said the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, would support a pilot being carried out. This is all behind time from a governmental point of view. Dr. Holohan talked about the possibility that a Department, either the Department of Transport or Health or both, combined with the aviation sector would put one of these plans in place, ensure the correct parameters and ensure that questions are being asked from a point of view of getting an evidence base that would allow for proper auditing of antigen testing. That is something in respect of which the committee is generally supportive.

Has Aer Lingus had any communications with the Department or the Government in respect of any of this? Would Aer Lingus be prepared to do that in the near future? As much as we are behind time, it would be positive if we could do this as quickly as possible.