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

From the outset of the pandemic, workers and unions in the aviation sector have called for two things: supports and a plan. The Government has a responsibility to protect strategic connectivity. The levels of support for workers, airlines and airports are a fraction of what is needed, based on international comparisons. The fact that there have been no conditions for the protection of jobs and strategic connectivity is simply a disgrace. Where is the plan and what is it? The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks, the aviation recovery task force, the National Civil Aviation Development Forum, NCADF and Professor Mark Ferguson have all made submissions on this matter. We all appreciate that the reopening of travel will have to be done safely but there are major concerns that we will not be able to avail of the opportunity that the digital green certificate and other developments present. We need to be prepared for that.

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