Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 80 together.

The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and I have recently concluded interviews for potential candidates, who were proposed by the Public Appointments Service. All five people we interviewed were eminently qualified, which makes for a difficult decision. We hope to conclude that process within the coming days, and return to the Government and then to the Dáil with details of the appointment of a suitable chair. I am confident that we will be able to get someone who is very well qualified for the role.

The chairperson, whoever takes on the job, will have a very real challenge. As the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, said earlier, we are in an environment where still, to this day, the American Government is effectively restricting transatlantic traffic. There will probably be a slow return. There is no immediate return in sight of business travel and while there has been a significant return to travel for personal reasons, holidays and so on, it is still at a very low level compared to what was happening historically. One should not underestimate the challenge and crisis our aviation sector is in - Shannon Airport as much as any other airport.

I am encouraged since talking to officials this week that we are seeing a number of flights planned for right through the winter. The Shannon Airport to Heathrow Airport route has been restored, but there is only one flight per day. We would like to see that back to its pre-pandemic schedule of three flights per day in order that it facilitates business traffic. Whoever the chair is will have to work with what I see as a very good management team in the airport to get flights back. It will help that the group has been focused down now on the industrial estate building and the airport operations. It is appropriate that the heritage role has been taken on by the county council and local authorities. It is, therefore, focused and tighter. The job is to get those flights back and the region with them.

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