Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Michael McNamara and all the Independents for tabling this motion. I welcome the state aid.

Cork Airport is worth €1 billion to the local economy, an amount that represents 95% of their business. That business is gone this year, leaving places such as Kinsale, Clonakilty and west towards Mizen Head badly affected. The airport needs the cash injection. Airlines have been cutting flights. Some have asked how Aer Lingus and others have been treating their staff. I asked serious questions at the Covid committee about that. Someone was meant to get back to me, but no one ever did.

I have been calling for rapid testing at airports for seven or eight months. The Tánaiste, who was then the Taoiseach, told me that it would cost too much. It has cost our economy much more by not having it. It will be in place now, but it is months too late. This has been unfair on the airlines and those businesses that depend on them. I was not listened to at the time.

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