Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Going back through the past year I have been in regular contact with Ryanair, Aer Lingus as well as NPHET, the Department of Health and the airports, all of which have an interest in this issue. There have been very collaborative arrangements. For our first PCR system, it was Dublin Airport which stood up to help provide the data centre to back that up. Similarly with Aer Lingus and Ryanair, at critical moments in this crisis, Aer Lingus was flying in personal protective equipment, PPE, at a time we needed it. Ryanair was flying people home at a time when we needed them. Both stood up to help the national effort in a really good way.

Throughout this crisis we have looked at antigen testing, PCR testing and a range of mechanisms in the context of how we regulate aviation. However, I will be upfront in saying the key debates and discussions are with the Department of Health and with our health officials because their agreement is what we would need. I have been in discussions with Aer Lingus and Ryanair but I do not see them as an obstacle. I am aware they are very keen to start testing. The real issue is to get our public health system comfortable and satisfied with how that works. Last summer and right through the autumn, we had discussions with the Department of Health in that regard. We came back to it again at Christmas and officials were looking at it and testing what might be possible.

The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has been in regular contact. Within Government, we know what the industry wants. Getting the health system to be competent for what is needed is the key. I was encouraged when Dr. Holohan, when attending this committee, stated that testing would be considered. We will pursue that. In my discussions with the industry, what it wants more than anything else is to follow through on the 19 July approach, including PCR testing as an option if somebody is not vaccinated or has not previously had the disease. That is the key process we now have to deliver on.