Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Much of the blame for this crisis can be laid at the door of the pandemic and the public health restrictions that ensued because people across the planet were forced not to fly and to maintain public health restrictions. In our case, much of the blame for the crisis can be laid at the Government's approach to support for the industry. We also believe that much of the blame for the crisis in aviation can be laid at the doors of employers, who slashed and burned employees' rights as a response to the crisis, with wholesale lay-offs, cuts and changes to employment contracts. Aer Lingus displayed what seemed like barely concealed contempt for workers. It seemed incapable of even filling out forms for basic social welfare applications so that workers could receive the correct benefits. It is also notable that many of the companies currently laying off workers, reworking and tearing up workers' contracts, posted massive and sustained profits in the years preceding the onset of Covid. Such companies had huge cash reserves and were still able to pay their CEOs massive bonuses while the crisis crippled the industry.

I take any statement from the Minister professing concern about those workers with a large dollop of salt. Some months ago, I asked the Minister, along with other transport ministers across the EU, to sign a simple petition calling for respect in social matters in aviation. It was a mild-mannered petition stating that all airlines should abide by employment standards and not use bogus self-employment contracts to undermine both workers and the tax take for the State. The Minister's reply was to the effect that the Government did not want to upset Ryanair and would not support decent employment rights across Europe.

It is scandalous that a Green Party Minister cannot even muster the enthusiasm that other aviation ministers across Europe have mustered.

Ultimately, we support aviation workers, their families and sensible public health measures that will make flights sensible and possible for all again. We do not, however, support prioritising an industry that cuts up the rights of workers and maintains the same unsustainable business model.

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