Results 10,741-10,760 of 26,043 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: That will be welcome news to the airports. They are now getting the green light from the Minister that they can proceed. Assistance is required to ensure there are no planning issues, so we will be ready when matters improve with regard to red and orange. Our airline industry can get back into action.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Absolutely. I call Deputy Lowry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I do not think he did.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am trying to bring in as many members as possible for one minute each. I call Deputy O'Rourke, followed by Deputies Ó Murchú, O'Connor and Carey.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will that three-day test also apply to people coming in from red countries?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Unfortunately, we must be out of this room. When before Christmas does the Minister expect to have a proper outline framework on both orange and red whereby the public will see the guidelines and the rules by which they must abide if they are advised to quarantine? In terms of a timeframe, are we looking at the end of November 2020 for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Next week, or in two weeks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister. There is some positive news today for the airline industry.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (4 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are breaching guidelines. I would like to thank the Minister for attending and engaging with the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies have been received from Deputy Matthews and Senator Buttimer. I believe Senator Burke is substituting for Senator Buttimer. I welcome Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer and chair of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET; Mr. Liam Morris, principal officer, Department of Health; and Dr. Cillian De Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, NVRL,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Dr. Holohan for his opening statement. I will now call the members according to the rota we have agreed. Deputy Cathal Crowe has seven minutes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are here to discuss the aviation sector. The question the public are asking relates to Christmas. We are in level 5 until 1 December. People tend to return home from 14 December for Christmas. Ryanair, Aer Lingus and other airlines have said that they will operate flights to facilitate Christmas travel. I refer to Dr. Holohan's presentation, in particular page 6, where it states: ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am not expecting this now.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I raise it in the context of 8 November approaching. I am seeking Dr. Holohan's views on pre-departure testing in respect of travel from orange and red zones, in particular red zones in respect of which people would be required to undergo a pre-departure test, quarantine for five days and then undergo a further test. Is there support for this? Will we reach a point whereby people can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: For 14 days.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We are really talking about orange and red.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: In a European and an American context.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is the practical measures. Assuming we get control over the virus and assuming there is some control at European and world level, how can we get to a point where NPHET will give the green light to Government to inform its decision so people will be able to book flights on Ryanair, Aer Lingus and other airlines to fly home at Christmas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Dr. Holohan is not ruling it out.