Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for facilitating this debate at my request last week. A lot has been said and we are more or less wrapping up this section. I join my colleague, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, on the situation with Aer Lingus in Shannon Airport. It is vital that the Shannon to Heathrow route is restored at the earliest opportunity. Shannon Airport is being dealt with differently from Cork, Dublin and Belfast. It is the only airport that does not have a direct connection to a hub. Shannon Airport services the mid-west and west. It is imperative that the Minister with responsibility for transport intervenes on this basis.

It seems 21 June is a key date. It is the date the temporary wage subsidy scheme will end. We have been told, and I have been informed, this vital scheme is being extended. On this basis I ask the Minister to intervene, speak to Aer Lingus and encourage it to keep in employment those loyal workers who have served Aer Lingus and the region so well over the years. It is vital that the Minister also asks Aer Lingus to make a statement on the base it has in Shannon, including the 90 cabin crew and 60 ground personnel. It is vital it gives this commitment.

When Aer Lingus was acquired by IAG in 2015, clear commitments were given and they need to be honoured. These are with regard to the Heathrow route and transportation to North America. That North American traffic is vital for Shannon. It is the lifeblood of tour operators, hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast accommodation, pubs and clubs throughout the west coast of Ireland. It is important those flights start as soon as possible.

I welcome the fact a task force is in place, which the Minister announced this evening. It is a pity he did not announce it a bit earlier. That said, I welcome that representatives of Shannon Group will be on the task force. The Shannon Group and the 80 other aviation-related firms in the mid-west need an extension of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. I argue this must be extended to 2021. The Minister stated the recovery of aviation will be slow.

We also need to look at the 14 day mandatory isolation period. To get aviation and transport going, which are vital industries for our island nation, we need to look at this issue again and give guidance and security to aviation companies and airlines, their employees and the industries that depend on the connectivity. I ask the Minister to come back to me on some of these questions.

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