Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to add my voice to much of what has been said in the Chamber so far. We are talking about the aviation industry and 140,000 people who have been under extreme pressure, given what has happened to aviation. We must ensure that there is continuity of supports. Even when we get up and running, we accept that there will be a long-term impact for those involved in all areas of the travel industry. As has been stated by some of the previous speakers and as was put on the record by myself and others previously, supports, particularly for the big airlines, need to be linked to ensuring that jobs are kept for workers and their families with a view to sustaining them throughout this entire period. Even beyond that, we must ensure that there is no diminution of workers' rights. Obviously, we are aware of the brutal case of Stobart Air. In looking to the future, the Government has to step up to the mark to ensure that those workers who have been absolutely hammered in recent days are given all the supports they need. We must also look at the fact that there may be new takers for those routes from outside. In that case, we must ensure that there is no diminution of the rights of workers in respect of pay or subcontracting. We need to ensure that we keep an eye on that. Government must do that.

We have spoken about 19 July and the possible resumption of international travel. We all accept that public health must be taken into account across the board. Two things are required. There must be complete clarity in relation to the EU digital Covid certificate and how it is going to work within the State. Details must be provided on it. We need to know at what point the app will be up and running and how it will work in respect of the relevant testing regime or vaccination information to ensure that it can be uploaded or produced onto the paper copy. We really need detail on that. We cannot have a case where 19 July arrives and we do not have the tools that are required to facilitate people to engage in international travel.

We have had many conversations in relation to antigen testing. There may be some element of a disputed narrative in respect of communication between NPHET, the Department and the two Ministers. In fairness, the CMO, Dr. Holohan, told us yesterday in the meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications that there is an insufficient amount of evidence from his perspective. However, he also stated that he would fully support a pilot scheme if it was put in place. That means that the Department, the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, need to get their act together in respect of putting the correct questions down and ensuring that the correct parameters are put in place.

They must ensure that there is a deal with the aviation industry from the point of view of putting a proper plan in place to carry out antigen testing as soon as possible.

We all know it would have been far better had we done this three or six months ago. We are where we are, however, on this. While there are difficulties and public health has to be taken into account, we need to ensure that we have all the tools necessary to get us beyond this point.

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