Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

Is the Minister and the Government reconsidering the €10 departure tax? We have heard in recent days that this is the straw breaking the camel's back for operators. Michael O'Leary of Ryanair says this tax is the primary reason 200 jobs at Ryanair in Dublin Airport have been lost and we hear that Aer Lingus will have to find €30 million in 2009 to fund the losses resulting from this departure tax. Given that such a small amount of money will be collected through this tax — well under €100 million this year — is this not the case of another own goal by the Minister as is the case with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, who scored a number of sensational own goals in recent months? Is this not another own goal and a devastating attack on employment at the worst possible time?

With regard to the question, can we have legislation to introduce simplified and less complicated ticketing arrangements? I note the Ryanair website states that commuters are charged a whole range of taxes such as the payment of a handling fee, the airport check-in fee, the priority boarding fee, the infant fee, the baggage fees, fees for the first bag, second bag and third bag, the excess bag, the infant equipment, the sports equipment, the musical instrument and, lately, the €30 fee to ensure that passengers will buy duty free goods only on board the Ryanair flight. The Minister has been doing nothing about this for the past couple of years. I ask him to deal first and foremost with the departure tax.

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