Ms Lynne Embleton:

Do I think it fair that conditionality is attached to any funding? No, I do not. Aer Lingus is as much a victim of this Covid pandemic as any other business and is more affected by decisions made by the Government in terms of its travel policies. Other countries have done more for their aviation sector. Aer Lingus does require support. We have outlined the type of support we feel is appropriate but given the situation in which we find ourselves, we do not believe it is fair for any support to come with conditionality.

Regarding Cork, I think the Deputy is aware that there is a review of handling. This review has not proceeded. At the time, we announced the lay off, there was no work at Cork for a period and that is what lay off clauses are typically there to accommodate. At the time of the decision to announce the lay offs, there was uncertainty around the EWSS, its continuation and what form that continuation would take.