Results 2,601-2,620 of 5,625 for speaker:Cathal Crowe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I will explain what I am getting at. I appreciate that the schemes were not unique to this sector. In the period in question, most companies mothballed, protected what they had and used the mechanisms of Government funding to protect their workforce. When things were ready to recover, they launched themselves back into normal operations. What happened in Aer Lingus-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I would argue it is quite different. Aer Lingus mothballed and cooled down certain operations but things got a lot hotter for the airline in Manchester in that same period.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: There is something askew here. In mothership Aer Lingus, a lot of staff were laid off, redeployed or went on reduced hours. In the Irish bases, Aer Lingus was subvented hugely by the Government, with €60 million or thereabouts. Meanwhile, over the Irish Sea in Manchester in that same period, Aer Lingus recruited and developed a new base. There is something askew there. If Aer...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I would contend that what Aer Lingus did was rather unique. While they were offered redeployment to Dublin, I do not think anyone in the Shannon base was offered redeployment to Manchester in that period. Not that it would have been very viable, but none of that was offered.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I would say their personal preference, with the greatest respect, was to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I will have to end here on this topic because there is loads more I want to get to. Rebuilding is fine, but the fact is that the winding-down happened in Ireland, the winding-up happened in the UK and it was Irish taxpayers' money that was used to support the Aer Lingus wage bill. I would like to see this matter analysed better by the Committee of Public Accounts. Has Aer Lingus looked...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Aer Lingus has hinted that in 2023, there will be enhancements to some of its services and offerings from Shannon Airport . When Mr. Michael O'Leary and Mr. Eddie Wilson of Ryanair were here a couple of weeks ago, they backed up what they said in the following days by announcing a number of new routes. Will the witnesses tell us what is in store for Shannon Airport for both short-haul and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Where is the summer leisure flight schedule at? Mr. Moody said it was still under consideration. Other airlines pretty much have all their plans for 2023 nailed down. When will we hear some certainty on that front from Aer Lingus?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Are there plans to expand IAG Cargo, particularly from the Shannon base? I would like to hear Aer Lingus's view on the flying truck mechanism. For those following this, that has allowed cargo to move down the motorway in a truck with a flight number. It is then taken off and treated from a customs point of view when it reaches Shannon Airport or its end point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Is Aer Lingus committed to maintaining its cargo base there?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Why the hesitation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Ryanair hosted an event in Trinity College two weeks ago where we were brought through its innovation hub. Ryanair has partnered with third level institutions and other sectors. Shell Oil was there as well. They showed us everything they are doing, from new winglets to sustainable aviation fuel, SAF, and the percentage they hope to get into that space. I want to hear a little bit more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Aer Lingus is doing a lot and that is welcome. The whole aviation sector has to drag itself forward, which is a global issue, and I welcome the role Aer Lingus is playing in this. The more new partnerships created, the better. The committee was in the Netherlands about a month ago and it was incredible to see how they are leagues ahead of us in terms of how they are leading in climate...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: When Mr. Michael O'Leary was before the committee he offered a commentary on each Irish airport, from Dublin all the way down to Waterford. In the interests of fairness, I want to afford Aer Lingus the same opportunity. Will the witnesses give us a good and bad analysis of the airports? They have told us of some of the shortcomings in Dublin, but can they spell it out for us? This is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: I know the witnesses are all smiling but it is a very relevant point. The company is flying in and out and we fly in and out as passengers. It is the airlines that touch down, so it is no harm to give a commentary. There is a lot of latitude in this room. Are there specific shortcomings in the Irish airport system? We have heard about and had views on the Dublin Airport tunnel. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: The point about wage subsidisation is probably not for this committee. I ask the Chair to see whether the Committee of Public Accounts might look at it in the future.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: That is factually the case, but if you are doing your shopping on Friday and I subsidise the purchase of your petrol, that gives you more money to go into Lidl, Aldi or Tesco to buy your groceries. This is the point. A huge amount of taxpayers' money - almost €60 million - was funnelled into the company. It was the right thing to do. It was about protecting workers, allowing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Aviation Policy: Aer Lingus (Resumed) (14 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: It was a devastating period. We were out meeting workers who were standing on the cold footpaths outside the airport wondering what lay in their futures. Offers were made to them and they took reductions in working hours, redeployment and all those options. It was devastating for some of them, who were there 20 and 30 years, to see a new base open up and new recruitment under way in...

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: Sinn Féin councillors are objecting to houses in Bray. What is that about? It is a total contradiction.

Confidence in Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage: Motion (13 Dec 2022)

Cathal Crowe: But Sinn Féin councillors are going out objecting all the time.