Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 28 July 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Covid-19: Impact on Aviation (resumed)

Mr. Sean Doyle:

I would like to respond to the comment regarding the Government not getting the scale of the crisis. The point I made in my opening statement is that, in reality, we have the most restrictive travel policy in Europe and that this has a more significant impact on Aer Lingus and Ryanair than on other European airlines.

We also have not enacted supports for aviation comparable with those in other European countries. That was outlined by the aviation task force. That is the reality. I will judge the Government on its actions, and that is the reality of its actions to date.