Results 18,161-18,180 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: I am joined by officials, Ms Andrea Lennon and Ms Nicola Hayes. I thank the committee for the opportunity to come back to speak further about the impact of Covid-19 on Irish aviation. I know the committee has dedicated a lot of its time and energy in the past month to raise and examine the key issues for aviation, with a focus on what needs to be done. I am very glad to receive its further...

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

Eamon Ryan: I look forward to the committee's report. This area will continue to change and evolve as the virus is continuing to evolve, along with the impact and responses to it with respect to testing and regulations. We will have to continue to be flexible and look at how arrangements change while following best international practice as best we can. It is about listening to the health advice....

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

Eamon Ryan: On the Chairman's final question, I reiterate what Dr. Holohan stated yesterday. It is far too early to be making statements in that regard. We are into the second week of level 5 restrictions. As Dr. Holohan stated, we are moving in quite a hopeful direction in terms of the level of incidence, but we will have to wait and see how that progresses. We must also wait and see what happens in...

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

Eamon Ryan: It will be in place within a short number of weeks. As I stated, it will be operated on a voluntary basis, that is, people will have to opt in. It is not that every single passenger will have to do that.

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

Eamon Ryan: It will be voluntary. It is designed-----

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

Eamon Ryan: Our current approach involves looking for passengers to comply with the regulations. The advice is clear in terms of passengers currently coming in restricting their movements. We are doing that on the basis of seeking public support in the compliance------

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

Eamon Ryan: No, we are saying it is an option. The system we will operate will be very similar to what the German and UK Governments are seeking to introduce. The health authorities indicated to me that if we are to introduce a testing system, such an approach would involve passengers being tested five days after arrival. My understanding of the health advice is that passengers would restrict their...

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

Eamon Ryan: The number of people travelling has decreased significantly. When I last appeared before the committee, approximately 15,000 people a day were coming into or leaving the country. The most recent figures show that this number has halved, approximately, as a result of the level 5 restrictions and what is happening internationally. There are a significant number of essential workers who must...

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes. The Chairman should remember that, as Dr. Holohan and the civil servants from the Department of Health stated yesterday, our system is based on public support for compliance. A friend of mine told me about the travel restrictions in China, New Zealand and other countries that have a forced quarantine system whereby one is put in a hotel on arrival and is obliged to remain there for two...

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

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Senator. None of us knows how this virus will progress or the effect it will have on the wider economy and on international travel. I do, however, know for certain that Shannon Airport is of critical importance for the people working in the industry. Moreover, surrounding industries, nearby industrial estates, the wider Limerick region and, indeed, the region as a whole...

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

Eamon Ryan: That is one of the options at which we have been looking. As I have said, this whole area keeps changing. The application of such an approach will depend, to a certain extent, on European rules on state aid. We are looking at that. We are also looking at whether operating expenditure arrangements in airports could be supported and whether further capital supports could be provided. We...

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

Eamon Ryan: My understanding is that the airlines themselves have been looking at these matters. Aer Lingus is, for example, part of IAG and has, as I understand it, has been doing a lot of work with its partners on transatlantic routes with regard to passport and other arrangements. It has also looking at the different testing arrangements that might be put in place. The Dublin Airport Authority has...

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

Eamon Ryan: To be clear, the passenger contact form is not the same as contact tracing. It includes a mechanism to remind those coming from green countries of the basic health protocols here and to allow for people to be texted or otherwise contacted to see whether people are at the location they have said they would be. It is not part of the Department of Foreign Affairs contact tracing arrangement,...

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

Eamon Ryan: We will amend the forms so that those who qualify under the European exemptions list or who are coming from an amber country can indicate that they are availing of the right to remove themselves from the restrictions on travel. As I said, officials yesterday made the point that our system is not as restrictive as those in other jurisdictions. We are not-----

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

Eamon Ryan: As a result of geography with regard to the Border, we do not have a system in place under which we could compel, control or completely restrict someone's movements. It must be done on the basis of voluntary compliance, as are the vast majority of the health measures introduced in respect of Covid. One of our successes as a country has been public support and compliance in respect of those...

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

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy on the great importance of Shannon Airport. I have some figures here to demonstrate what I meant earlier when I spoke about additional support. Up to 30 September, the value of the employee wage subsidy scheme, EWSS, or the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, and the deferred VAT payments and commercial rates waiver to Shannon Airport was €4.9 million....

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

Eamon Ryan: I am just flagging the fact that the Government was very attentive to what committee members were saying about the various strategic interests around Shannon Airport. On the appointment of a chairman, that process is under way and will conclude shortly.

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

Eamon Ryan: The Public Appointments Service, PAS, is managing the process now. The system has changed since I was last a Minister. Previously, Ministers were very involved in the process but increasingly it is the responsibility of the PAS. I understand that the process is well advanced and I presume nominees will be presented to Government soon and I will make a decision very quickly. Whoever takes...

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

Eamon Ryan: I would expect to come to some decisions on this sooner than that because the finalising of a national development plan, NDP, or an economic recovery plan will be a longer process. The decisions we make-----

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

Eamon Ryan: Yes, but that economic plan will not necessarily be completed in the required time. I imagine we will try to have measures in place sooner than that.