Results 10,641-10,660 of 26,021 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will call the witnesses in the following order: Mr. Cullen, Ms Connelly, Mr. McGowan, Mr. Kavanagh and Dr. Cahill.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I ask Dr. Cahill to respond to Deputy Lowry's question about the importance of Cork and Shannon airports to the region.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have a few questions. Apart from the future of the sector, I want to deal specifically with the issue of testing. We have had various experts appear before the committee, including with respect to Rome airport, where rapid antigen testing is taking place. The Minister has appeared before the committee, as has the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, covering this whole area. They...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Mr. Cullen regard Ireland as an outlier in terms of rapid testing at the moment?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: We have limited time. The HIQA report on Covid that was commissioned by NPHET, the membership of which is basically located in the Department of Health, stated it could not stand over the antigen test. It said the PCR test was a more effective test. On health grounds, how does Mr. Cullen respond to that finding?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: What if the gold standard was mandatory?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Thank you.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: The representatives of the other unions may not wish to comment as I have further questions on workers and so forth. Do any of them wish to comment on the point I put to Mr. Cullen?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will conclude on that point. The Government now needs to examine having mandatory testing for orange and red listed countries and to increase capacity if we are proceeding with PCR testing and, working together, to do that in a way that is cost effective. I ask all the representatives what is their top priority item to get the airline industry and people back to work. When the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. Staunton, what is the number one for priority for Fórsa?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Mr. Kavanagh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: What is Mr. Cullen's number one priority?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Finally, Dr. Cahill or Ms Ryan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Thank you. We need to vacate this room in three minutes. Deputy Cathal Crowe wants to come back in for one minute. I will allow that and then we will conclude.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the representatives of IALPA, SIPTU, Connect Trade Union and Limerick Chamber for attending to engage with the committee. They will appreciate that there were time constraints but we wanted to ensure they could participate in our hearings on aviation. I thank the clerks for the fantastic work they have done.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (11 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies have been received from Deputy O'Rourke. Before we commence with the substantive part of our meeting today we will go into private session to discuss an important issue relating to today's meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is one of our concluding sessions on issues affecting the aviation sector. I welcome the following witnesses to today's meeting: Ms Anne Bonner, outgoing managing director, Mr. Steve Ó Cúláin, chair, and Ms Eilis Docherty, incoming managing director, Donegal Airport; and Mr. John Mulhern, CEO, and Mr. Basil Sheerin, chief financial officer, Kerry Airport; and Mr. Joe...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Ms Bonner and I invite Mr. Mulhern to make his presentation on behalf of Kerry Airport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Mulhern. We will now proceed to Mr. Gilmore who will speak on behalf of Ireland West Airport Knock.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues Affecting the Aviation Sector: Discussion (Resumed) (11 Nov 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Gilmore. For housekeeping purposes, I ask the witnesses to make sure they mute their microphones while other people are speaking in terms of the sound quality. We will now have questions from members, which I will limit to five minutes in the initial round as we are tight for time. I suggest that members limit their questions to give the invitees an opportunity to respond.