Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. On his first point, he is correct in saying that it is not a case of one size fits all. People who are going to Dublin Airport today want to go on their holidays. Some others are going by rail and sail, and it is good we are seeing improved figures on that, but for many people, we need international connectivity. We also need it to bring tourists here. The Leas-Chathaoirleach is correct in saying that some of the central European economies have a very different context compared with the citizens we all represent. I share his point on that. I am very clear that this is something I will articulate in any engagements I will have.

On the issue of Eurocontrol, and the Leas-Chathaoirleach has mentioned the committee has engaged on that, it is something on which we are actively trying to build continued momentum. It has been ongoing for a long time in Single European Sky, SES, which is to make our air traffic control system more efficient and co-ordinated. There was frustration with the French air traffic control strikes, for example. Again, that has environmental consequences if air traffic is being redirected all across Europe. There are huge opportunities there to have better co-operation in Europe. It is something we are continuing to prioritise.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach spoke to the wider point of Ireland's strong history of aviation from Shannon Airport and other areas and how we have built global recognition around that, including aircraft leasing and a whole range of other initiatives that have happened from Ireland. We need to continue to promote that and I agree with the Leas-Chathaoirleach on that.

On the issue of sustainable aviation fuel, as I said, we are establishing the structure to develop a better consensus on the next steps and a pathway. I think we will. If you look at the European ambition, it is inevitable that Irish airports will have storage or production, particularly given the ambition in Shannon Airport. However, we need to bottom out all of those issues and set out a pathway that is better than what is being set out in the European context.

On the Leas-Chathaoirleach's other point, we must focus on the basket of measures, as he has said, whether it is traffic management in an airport, air traffic control, efficiency in the sky itself, more fuel-efficient aircraft and technology and the increased use of SAF and the wider measures that are there. All will cumulatively improve the environmental piece in aviation and build a more sustainable sector, which is what we want to encourage through our own policy instruments and through our own ambition in Europe while balancing that against making sure we continue to have competitiveness and a strong economic argument for wider aviation policy.