Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for taking this issue and his comprehensive answer. For any airline to consider a direct route, it would have to be based on a commercial principle. The fact that there are reasonable one-stop alternatives in place is something we would have to examine. Nonetheless, for many years we have tended to look to markets in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe in the first instance, as well as North America. Particularly in agri-food exports, we have competed with the Australasian countries which now have greater direct access to Asian destinations, particularly Hong Kong and Bangkok, if not China. There are other reasons they have historically become the destinations and hubs. We are still competing with them, but our market has moved and we need to follow it as best we can. It has been proved time and again that one needs as direct access as possible. Tourists will visit the first country they come to. The Emirates flights give people direct access from the Middle East to Ireland as opposed to another major European city, which is welcome.

However, there is further potential in China and elsewhere in Asia. We should work with the industry and carriers to see if they will take a risk, even for a 12 month pilot initiative, to see how we get on.

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