Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement of the financial support package and I look forward to having the opportunity to analyse the detail of it in the coming days. I thank Deputy McNamara and the Independent Group for tabling this motion, which we will support. I hope they will take cognisance of the amendments. I also welcome that the Government is looking at approaches to air travel that are more in line with those of other countries in the European Union. The support package needs to ensure the workers are protected, thousands of jobs are maintained and the airports remain viable in the future.

It will be no surprise to the Minister of State that I want to talk about Knock Airport. The history of the airport was one of questions and doubt and the same narrow form of thinking that holds back regional development today. Despite many reservations, the airport had 100,000 passengers three years after it opened in 1998 and 500,000 passengers by 2005. This year, we were looking forward to having 1 million passengers but instead we have had 145,000 because of Covid-19. I commend the management and staff of Knock Airport on all that they have done and the continuous work they do. I acknowledge the 43 redundancies that had to be made because of Covid-19 and the 100 staff who have been temporarily laid off.

We need to ensure progress is maintained and built upon. As the Minister of State is aware, Knock Airport serves a population of 1.2 million and one quarter of the land mass of the country. It is one of the most underserved regions in the country in terms of connectivity. I know the Minister of State realises the importance of the airport in terms of the connectivity of the west. The western regional rail corridor is vital to link up with Knock Airport. Can anyone imagine the west without the presence of the vibrant Knock Airport?

The model is excellent in terms of the equity shareholding by the seven local authorities and the development of the strategic development zone. However, we need a vibrant airport, not least to bring in Joe Biden when he comes back to visit his relatives. Knock Airport now needs a functioning test and trace system for passengers arriving before Christmas to ensure that family and friends can return home safely. Airports, regional airports in particular, need the Government to deliver on testing. It is common sense that testing, which has proven effective in many other countries, is needed at Knock Airport. The aviation task force report must also be implemented in full. We know what we need to do but we need to do it urgently. We must acknowledge it because we cannot once again talk about regional development without talking about the progress, development and support of Knock Airport.

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