Mr. Willie Walsh:

Ireland punches way above its weight in aviation. We do so because Government policies have been positive and helpful. However, we need to continue in this regard. I fully recognise that every country and individual is conscious of the environmental impact of aviation. We need to put it into context. Admittedly, aviation contributes significantly to man-made CO2 emissions, the proportion being 2.5% globally, and there are non- CO2-related impacts on the environment, but our industry will achieve net zero in 2050 and, therefore, in Ireland we need to ensure we continue to protect what we have, exploit it and grow it, remaining confident that the environmental challenges we face will be overcome.

We should note the connectivity we have as a small country. Dublin Airport was ranked tenth or eleventh in Europe in 2019. That does not come about without hard work, nor does it come about overnight; it comes about because, as a country, we worked hard and recognised the economic contribution of aviation – not just the direct impact but also the significant impact on Ireland as a result of connectivity. There would not be foreign direct investment at the level we have if we were not globally connected in the way we are and, therefore, it is important that we value what we have and do not put it at risk. We must also continue to build and look for an opportunity to further exploit everything we have in Ireland.