Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)

That in itself is useful as we must be aware of the extent of the economic threat of a lack of indemnity in terms of failing to put legislation such as this in place. In general we must be ultra-cautious about the use of indemnities. We need look no further than the difficulties with the export credit scheme for beef to Iran as an example in our recent politics. An individual and a company tended to benefit most from that particular indemnity.

I also have concerns that outside of protecting the commercial interests of the Irish economy, the indemnity is extended, as Deputy Murphy stated, to aerodromes operating not for the transport of goods or only partially for the transport of goods, but more as locations for private and corporate aircraft. It is proposed that the indemnity be extended to such aircraft. In a sense it almost represents a subsidy to a privileged use of transport in this country. I do not see the same principle applied to cases where insurance does not apply to private car transport or the granting of such indemnity or cover to people who use public transport. The Minister must be clear as to why this cover exists in this circumstance when it would not be offered to other transport users.

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