Dáil debates

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

 

12:35 pm

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Aer Lingus was registered as our national airline on 15 April 1936 and has been Ireland's flagship since then. Aer Lingus has carried millions of passengers into and out of Ireland, mainly from the US and Europe, via Dublin, Cork and Shannon. One could say that it is the main driver and the lifeline for the tourism industry here. It is crucially important that Ireland, as an island nation, has a strong national airline to serve our transatlantic routes in particular. Aer Lingus employed 4,500 people prior to the pandemic. Last year, Air France-KLM received more than €10 billion and Lufthansa received €9 billion in state aid from the governments of their respective countries. Will the Tánaiste outline what the Government's plans are and what supports will be made available to ensure the survival of Aer Lingus and also to ensure that there will be no more job losses at the airline?

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