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

I thank the Minister. There is very serious frustration in the aviation sector with the Government. Ground workers, airport employees, cabin crew and pilots feel abandoned by the Government and despair at the lack of a plan for their sector. They recognise that Covid-19 is devastating but they have argued for the best of public health and public confidence in aviation.

I have been critical of the Minister and his predecessor that they did not do enough to put systems in place to provide protections and confidence. It was hands off at all stages. Perhaps the position would not have been made better but the Government did not try.

Last November, I raised the need for a comparative study between antigen testing and PCR testing. I had an exchange on this at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks. We have the Ferguson report. Yesterday, I asked who calls for such studies. The House was told the Department, the Minister and the sector work together. Deputy Duncan Smith asked if the Minister and Minister of State had asked for a pilot study. We were told they had not. I read an article in theIrish Independenttoday, which indicated that the Department had suggested a study. Did the Minister, Minister of State and Department forcefully request that a pilot study take place?

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