Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 November 2020

Regional Airports: Motion [Private Members]

 

10:40 am

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McNamara and the Independent Group for bringing forward this important motion. Sinn Féin is very happy to support the motion and has submitted an amendment to include the south east.

The aviation recovery task force report, published earlier this year, highlighted the huge value of aviation to the Irish economy. Air transport contributes an estimated €8.9 billion to our GDP and supports in the region of 140,000 jobs across the State.

I, like many of my colleagues, have been in contact with a huge number of constituents who work across this sector and who have been particularly affected by the pandemic and resulting restrictions. These workers range from pilots and cabin crew to airport workers, ground crew, travel agents and other workers who depend on the aviation industry. To a man and woman they have faced real difficulty this year, with little to no work and a huge drop in incomes, putting real pressure on their personal finances. They understand the impact the pandemic has had on international travel but their demand of the Government is fair and reasonable. They want the Government to do all it can to protect their jobs and prepare for the resumption of foreign travel when it is safe to do so.

I have consistently expressed my concern that thelaissez-faire approach from the Government was risking the permanent loss of thousands of jobs and the loss of key strategic routes. The shambolic implementation of the green list system, in addition to the point-blank refusal to have airport testing since the beginning of the pandemic, exemplified this.

We have heard from the airports' representatives at the transport committee that it takes years of work to secure routes and once they are lost, they are very difficult to get back. Our international airports are crucially important for attracting investment and tourism to the regions and are key to balanced regional development. We cannot allow important routes to Britain and the US especially to lapse during this pandemic.

I very much welcome the additional funding announced by the Minister yesterday for airports around the State, but this was only one aspect of the recommendations of the aviation recovery task force report and much more work is needed. Recommendation No. 3 of the task force report was for a comprehensive test, track and trace system and despite repeated calls we still do not have this. On track and trace, according to figures I have received, 82% of people who complete the passenger locator form do not get a follow-up call.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the requirement for arrivals to restrict movements for 14 days is not being followed in many cases and empirical evidence from the summer confirms this.

On testing, I have been asking both this and the previous Government to put a testing system in place since before the summer. I am glad the Government eventually conceded to this fundamental principle but it took far too long and the system is still not in place. The delay is inexplicable, as is the delay in conducting our own comparative analysis of Covid assay and testing technologies, such as looking at polymerase chain reaction, PCR, testing versus loop-mediated isothermal amplification, LAMP, testing versus rapid antigen. That should have been done months ago. While we all hope a vaccine will be the key to defeating the virus, that is still just a hope and with the best will in the world it will take considerable time to be administered so a robust testing and tracing system will be needed well into 2021. If it is done right, it can help restart the aviation sector and help tens of thousands of people across the industry get back to work in a safe way. We should rigorously and proactively pursue the option of pre-departure testing with rapid testing technology.

The Sunday Business Post reported this weekend that the Government is examining subsidising key air routes through a public service obligation. I ask the Minister to provide clarity on that report and outline what routes are under consideration.

I welcome this motion on the aviation sector and its essential strategic importance but I reiterate that the future of the aviation sector cannot be built on the back of exploiting loyal workers. Newspaper headlines stated that workers were struggling to afford to feed their children. They were hovering above the poverty line due to the way the TWSS and EWSS were implemented. I know that to be the case and it is shameful. Similarly, thousands of customers are still waiting for refunds and vouchers. Many more lost out altogether as ghost planes left without them but with their money. Travel agents were affected in the same way. This is absolutely disgraceful from airline companies and it has not gone unnoticed.

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