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

The witnesses will appreciate this is a topic we would like to explore but, like everyone else, we are constrained by Covid-19. We have gone over time. It is a very important subject. Phenomenal work has been done, specifically by Mr. Thompstone in respect of the document he has produced and Ms Fitzgerald Kane in her role as president of the Irish Hotels Federation. They have worked together to prepare the proposal. I also acknowledge the work of the Shannon Chamber CEO, Ms Helen Downes, along with its president, Mr. Stephen Keogh, who have also worked on the proposal. It is very practical.

The proposal for a Covid-19 traffic recovery support scheme, TRSS, which in effect supports routes, is very well researched and is grounded in fact. It seeks to restore the type of aviation connectivity that existed before the pandemic. The proposal looks at routes that were vibrant before the pandemic and Shannon specifically in terms of its huge capacity. There is a large multinational base and a large tourism sector there. How many airlines were flying transatlantic out of Shannon Airport before the pandemic?