Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise issues with the IAA pension scheme and with the treatment of those with an IAA pension and the provisions they have been given. I have raised this matter with the Minister of State through parliamentary questions, and while I understand that she views it, technically, as a private pension scheme, it is fair to say she has some role in its governance. I ask her to meet those who are affected and in receipt of an IAA pension. They have engaged with the IAA board and the Department and are unhappy with the results thus far. I understand that these matters have been referred by the Fórsa trade union to the Minister under section 41(7) of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993. I ask that the Minister of State consider meeting these people and hearing their concerns.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the strains that Covid-19 have put on those working for airlines. While we understand that people should not travel at the moment unless it is an emergency, we must remember that in March 2020, Ryanair employed more than 17,000 staff and Aer Lingus more than 4,000. I have been contacted daily by some of these people who live in my constituency of Cork North-Central and they are very concerned. The Government needs to enhance the supports available to these workers. They cannot be forgotten about. As I am sure the Minister of State will understand, every time a return to international travel is pushed further away, these workers suffer. In most cases, these people have been out of work for ten months, with no return in sight - no mortgage breaks, no fuel allowance, no additional supports. These workers and their families are concerned and even scared. Without Government supports, these people, who may never have struggled financially before, are really suffering, and it will only get worse in the coming months.

We in Sinn Féin have brought forward a wide range of solutions to many of the problems faced by those experiencing financial difficulty in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. I urge the Minister of State to stop dismissing our proposals and solutions and to start listening to our ideas because we want to help ordinary people and families through this crisis.

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