Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for updating me on the time allowed. I am sure viewers watching Oireachtas TV will be delighted to hear that, notwithstanding that this is an important issue affecting so many people, particularly the aviation industry, I will not talk for the full 11 minutes.

Covid and mandatory hotel quarantining are the twin axis which have wreaked havoc on the aviation and tourism sectors. They now put the very future of the Irish aviation community in doubt. I am deeply conscious that what I say today is in anticipation of what we hope will be a comprehensive statement tomorrow from An Taoiseach regarding aviation. I am also conscious that considerable work has been done and progress has been made on the EU digital green certificate which will come into effect from early July.

It will be a slow recovery for the aviation sector and the Irish Airline Pilots Association, IALPA, many of whose members are outside the House today, has put forward four specific asks for us. Essentially, they want this House to end the delay in reopening international travel and to introduce rapid antigen testing for airline passengers. As part of its four-stage plan, the group has also called for travel harmonisation between Ireland and UK.

A man in Longford town who is in his 70s plans to travel to the UK in two weeks’ time. He is fully vaccinated and, as it stands, he will not require a PCR test or even an antigen test in order to travel. However, he will be required to show a clear PCR test on his return if he wants to be admitted to the country at Dublin Airport. It is not an inconsiderable €100 plus additional cost for a pensioner with limited means. It is also a clear deterrent to him as he tries to decide whether to fly out or not. The same man could opt to fly from Belfast, thereby avoiding the cost of a PCR test. It points to the fact that we need to harmonise the common travel area with UK and align with its position on travel. As it stands, the requirement for returning vaccinated passengers to show a clear PCR test is an artificial barrier serving no purpose. It offers no public health value at this stage.

There is a belief that Dublin city will bounce back quickly from Covid but the reality is that it will not unless the planes start to fly again. This city is hugely dependent on overseas visitors. It is vital that we embrace the EU digital certificate with immediate effect from 1 July. We have a short window this year in which to aid and assist tourism and the aviation sector. The vaccination programme is well advanced in the US and, as it stands, US visitors who have received an EU-approved vaccine 14 days previously can avoid mandatory hotel quarantine but will need to show a clear PCR test. Again, this is cumbersome and could be resolved if we adopt a similar approach for the US as we now have in place with the EU digital green certificate.

The House will be pleased and relieved to hear that I am not a scientist. However, I fear NPHET has overstepped the mark when it vehemently stated its position on antigen testing. I accept the Government has to work with NPHET. I am mindful and deeply appreciative of the work it has done. As a veteran of 15 years of marriage, however, my advice is always that if one makes a mistake, gets it wrong or says the wrong thing, it is best to put one's hand up and say sorry.

If we were to deploy rapid antigen testing, it would not only greatly assist the recovery of the aviation and tourism sectors, it would also deliver a significant public health benefit. NPHET, to be fair, has been the scapegoat for much of what we did not like or want in terms of restrictions. In the area of antigen testing, however, it has got it wrong. We need the planes back flying. We need pilots and airlines staff back engaged in meaningful employment. We need tourists back in Ireland this summer.

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