Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I contribute to tonight's debate in the context of Covid. Until such a time as a vaccine is found, we will be living in Covid world. We are seeing an increase in the rate of infection, which we will have to tackle. It is not going to be easy over the next six months or more until a vaccine is found. A number of steps should be taken in the context of the budget. One must be to maintain sectors that are coming under extreme stress from external shocks. In general, the multinational sector has come through this pandemic reasonably well. The hospitality sector, including publicans and hotels, has come through extremely difficult times. The arts sector is going through a very rough time. Then we have the whole area of aviation, airports such as Shannon Airport in my region and travel agents.

The recovery fund is a strong measure which should be of significance and scale. If required, funding for it should be increased. While we have to view the fund in terms of the overall financial well-being of the economy, we need to spend in the current climate to ensure we retain jobs. On the aviation side, there has to be support from the State for strategic routes. Aer Lingus is not flying to Heathrow from Shannon Airport. I want to see that service restored as quickly as possible, which will need State support. I want to see the transatlantic routes operating again. That will take a bit more time but it is most important as there are many jobs involved.

In the arts sector, a large number of people are very exposed. It is hugely important that the arts and the SME sectors come through the pandemic intact. The worry is that the longer the pandemic goes on, the more exposed they are and the more difficult it will be to resurrect these sectors. We have to put supports in place and look at the budget on a sectoral basis. We must consider how to support events and live acts. The hospitality sector, hotels, publicans and restaurants must be looked at. I made reference to the aviation sector also. It is a feature of this crisis that, in the main, our income tax revenues have held up, which is something. This is because the multinational sector and other professional sectors have held up. Our system is by definition progressive but many of the sectors where people are paid less and are not paying income tax will need significant support, particularly the entire hospitality and retail sectors.

Shannon Airport is vital to people in Limerick and must be supported. Aer Lingus, as the national carrier, is vital as it operates the Heathrow and transatlantic routes. We need State supports in that area. I want the Government to provide support for strategic routes, including to Heathrow and the Aer Lingus transatlantic routes to JFK and Boston airports.

We can come through this pandemic. Do we have a recovery fund? We do not know what will happen in the next six to eight months. We have to ensure we have funds in place to deal with issues as they arise, as we have done to date.

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