Results 6,301-6,320 of 6,824 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: To what degree-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: My question relates to the best-case scenario.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Has Mr. Wilson a sense of pent-up demand?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Whether it is visiting friends and relatives, business or tourism and hospitality, there is obviously restricted opportunity to do anything if one is travelling abroad or coming to Ireland. Is there any sense of a pent-up demand and, if so, where is it relative to other years?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. I put the same question to Mr. Moriarty about a best-case scenario and the opportunities for 2021.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Mr. Moriarty believe that his case his helped by coming here this morning and saying that there is a one in 27 million chance of transmission of the virus onboard an aircraft? That is completely not credible. I have looked at the IATA evidence, which indicates that it is not possible to give an exact estimation and that the figure is only based on published reports. Is it credible for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have it. The report also says that there is no way to establish an exact tally of possible flight-associated cases. Does it not say this also?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: It does. I can tell Mr. Moriarty that it does.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: My point is that it is important to recognise the role played by aviation in the spread of the virus. We cannot be in denial of the role it plays and it is important to have an honest conversation about it. To suggest that there is a one in 27 million chance of transmission is completely incredible and is not based on any sound science. It does a disservice to the quality of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to follow up on the issue of workforce planning. Will Mr. Moriarty indicate where Aer Lingus expects to be in that regard in the months ahead? For example, it has a voluntary redundancy package. By what number is it looking to reduce its head count?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: We heard Mr. Moriarty loud and clear as regards those requests. I thank him.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. Mr. Bassato has come through an experience that Ireland is struggling with. I have a couple of questions which I hope he will be able to answer. In terms of rapid antigen testing, what is the sample? Is it a nasal swab, a throat swab or both? Who are the manufacturers and suppliers of the rapid antigen tests? What system is being used? Does Mr. Bassato know about...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: That is no problem. Has the impact of the introduction of this system on the demand for flights and the number of people travelling been monitored or measured? If so, is the impact positive or negative?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: From the time of conception to the time of implementation, how long did it take to introduce this system? What sort of capital investment was required?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Bassato for those responses. I echo a point made earlier by Mr. Philips. We are entering a scenario whereby we will accept people coming into this country on the back of a negative rapid antigen test but we seem to be indicating it is not satisfactory for people departing the country. There is an immediate contradiction in that position.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (28 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I am sorry to have to dip in and out of the meeting, such is the nature of Covid-19. Mr. Philips referred to the liquidity ask with regard to Dublin and Cork Airports. I ask the same question of Ms Considine. I want to also ask about the risks associated with flying. Earlier we discussed the argument that the risk is minimal. I believe it is a question of managing the risk. There is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank both witnesses. I would like to pick up on a point Dr. Muinzer raised on public participation and engagement. Perhaps Mr. Church would also like to comment. Could the witnesses comment on the importance of that element and what it looks like in other jurisdictions? Are there exemplars?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action: General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020: Discussion (Resumed) (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I have a question on the pros and cons of adopting the split target approach of handling various emissions in various ways. It was referenced with regard to New Zealand.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. I will follow on from those questions to Mr. Cornelis. I take on board the point on EASA and the ECDC investigation of testing protocols. Will Mr. Cornelis speak to the existing testing protocols that are in place in European Union member states? There is some discussion in Ireland on the prospect of implementing a testing regime here, whether it be PCR or some...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (27 Oct 2020)

Darren O'Rourke: I wish to ask a couple of follow-up questions. When is the report expected from the EASA and the ECDC in relation to a testing protocol and what is the timeline in relation to that? As regards the efforts outside of testing to agree a common approach, Mr. Cornelis referenced that there was a difference between the Commission's proposal and that adopted by the Council. What efforts are being...