Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The prepared response I shared was to the question submitted to me. On the strategic value of connectivity, the Government has always been extremely fair. It abolished the air travel tax and supported Shannon Airport, made it autonomous and gave it the ability it needed to compete. There are welcome signs of this. The Government has placed aviation and connectivity at the heart of how it has encouraged investment and tourism. Last year alone, well over 7 million visits were made into and out of the country, owing to the level of access we have achieved. This is, in part, due to the decision made by the Government to abolish the air travel tax, which led to a direct increase in travel on routes into and out of the country.

On the nature of a guarantee and what we will propose, the Department expects to make contact with IAG soon in order to clarify what has been said. However, it is up to others to make the case for any takeover bid they wish to make. We are a shareholder and must make a decision in the right and long-term interests of the country. That is what we will do.

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