Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We gave Aer Lingus money as part of the package. Surely the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, the Minister for Transport, the Minster of State or someone sat down with Aer Lingus and said "Hang on a second. Aer Lingus has not resumed a number of flights, for example, out of Cork". Has it been asked why? Will those flights come back?

Emerald Airlines is taking over some of the short-haul flights. What is its policy? What is its mission statement now in respect of the short-haul flights in Europe? I appreciate that the Department cannot do everything - I am not trying to suggest otherwise - but the Government can proceed on behalf of the people. We have Project Ireland 2040, of which we are all supportive because it is about regional development, but if everybody who lands in Ireland lands in Dublin Airport and if suddenly things are going nowhere other than Dublin, we will not benefit from the increase in passenger numbers as we should.