Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

This is a simplistic, nonsensical and nihilistic analysis. There are resources we can find from segments of the population who should contribute more to help deal with the national crisis. On the scientific advice, obviously the IAA is taking advice from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in London. What is the most recent advice the Minister has received? Is he having video conference calls with his European colleagues on a daily basis to monitor this? What is the worst case scenario the Government is prepared to meet? For example it is said that when this volcano erupts, its big sister, Katla - I will not try to pronounce the name of the erupting volcano itself again - is an angry sister and always erupts on time. If this turns into an event that lasts for several years, what is the Government's thinking in that regard?

Once again Irish citizens are stranded abroad and visitors who are very valuable to our country are stranded here. Has the Minister made any special arrangement to ensure that European legislation is enforced for those passengers? In the past week or so we all met people who managed to get back during the previous ash outbreak and found it very difficult. Will the Minister insist that their rights will be respected? Does he welcome that the chief executive of Ryanair, Mr. Michael O'Leary, finally decided to follow European law in this regard?

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