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

That definitely was the request that this passenger cap, whatever the wider issues are, should not impact, in particular, PSOs. We are talking tourism but we are also talking about those who have absolutely necessary medical and health reasons for travelling. I welcome that and we need to ensure it happens because the chairperson of the airline had stated that there could be an issue about the viability of the service. If that deals with that issue, that is definitely a good thing. We need to ensure that all of the i's are dotted and t's are crossed to ensure that happens so that we deliver for these people.

There is a wider issue with the planning conditions. Dublin is an airport hub. Whatever we do with our regional airports, if we lose flights here, they go to London, Prague and to the other places. We need to ensure that we do not lose out on what is a major hub airport and connectivity. We absolutely rely on this. Whatever the reasons for it, a solution needs to be found. At the end of the day, the buck stops with the Minister of State and with the Government and there needs to be a solution.

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