Results 5,001-5,020 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: A final question. Has Mr. Thompstone spoken to representatives from Ryanair about this scheme?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (23 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: Shannon is a valuable asset and we need to work it as hard as we can for everybody's benefit and for the country's benefit as a whole. I thank the Chairman for letting me contribute. I thank the witnesses for everything they are doing. I wish them all the best with it.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I want to bring to the attention of the Leader an issue that is the direct opposite, although not intentionally, of what Senator Ruane has been saying. I have been speaking with the chair of the Licensed Vintners Association and I have been in contact with the chief executive of the Restaurant's Association of Ireland. Along with many other people who operate businesses in Dublin city, they...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I will try to stick to time as much as I can. Ms Embleton is very welcome to Ireland and Aer Lingus. Although Aer Lingus is not State-owned, many people still regard as the Irish flag carrier, have much fondness for it and want it to do well. We appreciate all the work during the crisis in bringing in personal protective equipment and so on. Will the witness given an indication of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: How large is the long-haul fleet, how much is parked and where are those aircraft parked? Are they in Ireland or abroad?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I am not so bothered about exactly where they are. If they are parked in the corner of the airports at Shannon or Dublin, they could come back relatively quickly, but if they are in France or Spain, it is more likely they are there for the long term. The fear might be that they would not come back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: The intention is to have all the aircraft back in service in the fullness of time. Is that the idea?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I am very conscious of the time and I am also conscious that many people have covered the Shannon issue. I am delighted they have done that. I will focus on Dublin and the percentage of business that Aer Lingus did from Dublin before the pandemic. Was it 60%, 70%, 80% or 90%?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I suppose that is my point. At one point, the airline had more than 90 routes from the island, but where will they be by this time next year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: Sometimes previously, when there were job announcements, it equated to so many staff per additional aircraft. If Aer Lingus is going to be a smaller airline in terms of aircraft numbers, I presume the company is, unfortunately, anticipating some job losses. Has Ms Embleton any idea what the number might be?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: What effect will the Manchester base have on Dublin? Will it lose services, in effect, if aircraft are being relocated to Manchester, as they would clearly not be available to Dublin? That may not be an issue currently. I am delighted Aer Lingus is expanding this way and looking for profitable services but I do not want that to be at the expense of the Irish people. What is the intention...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: As I am conscious of the time, I will end by saying I appreciate what Ms Embleton is doing and thank her for what she is doing for the regions. Equally, I ask her to remember that Dublin Airport has been 90% of the airline's business in the past and I hope it can continue to be a significant part of that business. I wish Ms Embleton the best in getting the network back up and running as...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Minister of State. This is the first time that I, as a returning Senator, have been in the Chamber with her. I congratulate her on her appointment. Some of the first points that I made on my return were about Shannon Airport, which might surprise people. The mid-west region is well represented in the Seanad by Senators Dooley, Marie Byrne, Conway and Gavan. The Joint...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the Chief Medical Officer and his team for everything they have been doing in the past 15 months. It is very much appreciated by all the Irish people. This is the transport committee and it obviously has a role to play in trying to get Irish aviation, in particular, back up and running, bearing in mind the impact on sectors such as tourism and hospitality in general. I am aware...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I have no problem with an antigen test pilot. I can sense from NPHET that it really has to rely on evidence that antigen testing is reliable. If it wants to accept antigen testing as valid, it will want a study but, if I am correct, Dr. Holohan is saying that if the time were taken to do a study, it would almost be 19 July anyway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: There are the guts of 140,000 people in Irish aviation, many of whom are watching this meeting today. Their concern was that antigen tests were being written off. Now Dr. Holohan is saying there will not be a need for antigen tests from 19 July onwards and that any study that could be relied upon would take longer than the period up to that date. I became a member of this committee only...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I do not doubt it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: My understanding is that there were 350 pilots outside the Department of Health this morning. They have had their incomes and lives decimated in the past 15 months along with many others in other sectors. They would love to be able to meet, if only for half an hour or 45 minutes, if possible. I hope it might be possible for Dr. Holohan to meet them, obviously in the same way he is meeting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Gerry Horkan: I thank the witnesses. I appreciate Dr. Holohan's clarification of what “fully vaccinated” means for different vaccines. From 19 July, will the fully vaccinated be able to book flights anywhere without being required to have a test by the Irish authorities, bearing in mind that they could be required to have tests to varying degrees in other countries?