Mr. Rónán Hession:

I will address the arts and culture issue and then ask my colleague to speak on the Aer Lingus issue. I think approximately 12,000 people from the arts and culture sector are currently claiming the PUP. The size of the sector overall is approximately 55,000 people, according to the CSO data. At the peak approximately14,000 were on the PUP, so the current figure is slightly below the peak. A number of different issues have been raised with us by this sector. Many of the people in the sector are freelance, and there was a question around their ability to do a small amount of work without losing the PUP. Originally, when we were interpreting the legislation, we had given advice and guidance that people were able to do a small amount of work if it was intermittent, sporadic, etc. In response to concerns raised by the sector, one of the measures announced in the budget was the introduction of a €480 earnings limit for those people so they had clarity on what they could earn while still retaining their PUP payments. There are further measures for people who earn beyond that limit through the part-time job incentive to allow them to return to a position of fuller employment. There is a wide range of issues in this sector. The Minister, Deputy Martin, has published a task force report which addresses a wide range of issues beyond social welfare, going into what that sector needs. Clearly, the sector has been heavily impacted by the pandemic and faces a number of challenges, but overall we have tried to continue positive and constructive engagement with it.

Overall, we have tried to continue to engage positively and constructively with the sector. I was a member of the task force on arts and culture. We have had a good dialogue over several months and we have tried to be responsive to issues that have been raised.

I will ask my colleague, Ms Teresa Leonard, to speak on the Aer Lingus issue. I am happy to answer any further questions on this area.