Dáil debates

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Aviation Industry

9:00 am

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the actions he is taking to support the aviation sector (details supplied); the discussions he has held with the Minister for Health and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, regarding the use of serial antigen testing to aid the sector’s recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32822/21]

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Minister for Transport what actions he has taken to support the aviation sector, noting the collapse of Stobart Air last weekend with the loss of hundreds of jobs. What discussions has he held with the Minister for Health and members of the National Public Health Emergency Team about the use of serial antigen testing to potentially aid the sector's recovery and will he make a statement on the matter?

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, the Government has made significant funding available to the Irish aviation industry through a range of business supports. The bulk of the support to airlines is through the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, and employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, which were specifically designed to maintain the link between employers and employees. It is estimated that by the end of June 2021, the sector will have received approximately €300 million in such supports. Liquidity funding is also available through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund pandemic stabilisation and recovery fund and the DAA and Aer Lingus have both availed of substantial support through this mechanism.

The Government has also committed an €80 million direct funding package for Irish aviation in 2021. A new regional airports programme for the period 2021 to 2025 was published on 4 February.

This programme committed a budget of €21.3 million for this year and will continue to support Ireland’s smallest airports at Knock, Kerry and Donegal. A figure of €11.1 million has been paid out so far through the programme.

By virtue of their size and passenger numbers, Cork and Shannon airports have never been eligible for such funding. In light of the impacts of Covid-19, however, and taking account of the recommendations of the task force for aviation recovery, the Government has also committed to providing Cork and Shannon airports with access to capital and operational supports of €32.1 million in 2021 under a Covid-19 regional airports programme.

The allocation to Shannon Airport, which will support the delivery of a broad range of projects at the airport, is in addition to the €6.1 million already approved for a significant hold baggage screening project for the airport in 2020.

In addition to the projects announced, an application for funding in respect of a runway overlay project at Cork Airport is being assessed. Given the costs involved, this project is subject to appraisal under the public spending code. Pending a satisfactory explanation, I hope to be in a position to formally approve funding of €10 million for the project in the coming weeks.

The Government recognises the importance of regional connectivity and the importance of our regional airports to the regions they serve. It reacted immediately to the sudden announcement by Stobart Air that it was ceasing operations at the weekend. My Department has initiated an emergency procurement process with a view to restoring air services linking Dublin with Donegal and Kerry airports.

9:05 am

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Minister will get a chance to come back in. His time us up; I am sorry.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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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?

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Yes. In April, on the back of the report produced by the National Civil Aviation Development Forum, the Minister of State, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, wrote to the Taoiseach and all Government Ministers, including the Minister for Health, promoting the recommendations of that report, which also made the case for using antigen testing on a trial basis. In public and internally, I have been completely supportive of Professor Ferguson's approach with regard to the benefits of antigen testing for screening.

I watched with interest reports on the committee hearing yesterday. We will sit down with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Holohan, and work on whether he is willing to introduce such tests, as requested. We will work with him and make that happen straight away. It will be with the Chief Medical Officer's support, however. We must get public health measures right in this regard. Throughout this crisis, we have been testing every option and listening to the health officials as they came back. We have looked at all these options.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It will be hugely frustrating for people to hear that this was recommended in April and we still have no action on it. I listened this morning to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science speak on the radio about an argy-bargy on the issue of antigen testing and the need to properly assess. We heard yesterday there is no evidence base. We could have been preparing such an evidence base. We do not know where the evidence will take us but it is legitimate to pilot antigen testing to identify if a combination of this system or a particular formula or platform could work.

The Minister with responsibility for third level education also stated this morning that the Government was looking at the possibility of paying for PCR tests for children travelling with parents after 19 July. We should have had an antigen test system in place and we should, at least, have tested the system. Is the Government considering funding PCR tests?

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Deputy should remember that what the aviation industry wanted more than anything else - we have had extensive discussions on it throughout this crisis - was an end to the Government recommendation on essential travel only and the reintroduction of flying. That will take place from 19 July. Critically, coming with the mass vaccination of our society, that will allow people to be able to fly without having to take a test. That is the preferred option for all concerned. The position will continue to evolve, as it has changed right through this crisis, including how we manage children and the potential vaccination of younger age groups.

The answer, therefore, is "Yes". We should look at all options but first things first. We need to get to 19 July and get people back flying, which we have always recognised was essential for the connectivity of the country to allow families and friends to unite and let people go on holidays. That is the first thing we need to get back working, and we will do that.