Results 10,881-10,900 of 26,032 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. MacCarthy. Dr. Holohan and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will be before the committee next. We will address what can be done to bring in pre-departure rapid testing on 8 November.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Could Mr. Phillips make the case that if rapid antigen testing came in at airports, it would improve public health in terms of risk where the virus is concerned?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: You are not going to take a leaf out of Mr. Wilson of Ryanair's book, are you?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: On foot of that, have the airport groups had discussions with Government and the Departments on their liquidity requirements?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Philips, Ms Considine and Mr. MacCarthy for their engagement with the committee. We will have follow-on hearings next week with the Chief Medical Officer and chairman of NPHET, Dr. Holohan, and with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, around the whole area of testing and the HIQA report. I hope the witnesses will tune into it. The committee will then issue a report.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Business of Joint Committee (27 Oct 2020)

Kieran O'Donnell: Apologies have been received from Senators O'Sullivan and Buttimer. Senator Burke will substitute for Senator Buttimer.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome Mr. Filip Cornelis, director of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport at the European Commission and, from the Irish Aviation Authority, Mr. Niall Connors, assistant director of the safety regulation division, and Mr. Paul Brandon, head of corporate affairs. I draw the attention of our guests to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009,...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Cornelis for his opening statement. Before continuing, I ask that anybody with a device on which messages are coming through would put the device on silent mode. There are seven to eight minutes remaining for Mr. Connors and Mr. Brandon of the Irish Aviation Authority to make their opening statement. They have provided the committee with a lengthy document and they might...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Brandon. We will now commence with questions and we are joined by Mr. Cornelis by video link. I ask members and witnesses to abide by the seven-minute time limit, which is to include the questions and the answers..

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

Kieran O'Donnell: When will the testing protocol to which Deputy O'Rourke referred be ready to go to the Council?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: If members use much of their time to ask questions, I will have to curtail the time that can be allowed to respond. If they ask brief questions, it will allow our guests more time to answer.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I have a few questions for Mr. Cornelius. Can we can have a proper functioning airline industry in Europe again without having a proper pre-departure rapid test in place and compete harmonisation between the individual European countries on the traffic light system? Would the Irish Government be required to apply to the European Commission for state aid if it were to give it to an Irish...

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Can the airline industry come back without having a common pre-departure rapid test and a common understanding of the EU traffic light system?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: May I send a message to the European Commission loud and clear? It should devise a protocol around pre-departure rapid testing. Will Mr. Cornelis take that message back with him?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: If we do not have a pre-departure rapid testing system and harmonisation of the European traffic light system, how long does the IAA believe the Irish airline industry can survive?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank Mr. Brandon. Next is Deputy Smith, who has seven minutes.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: I will not hold the Deputy to that.

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

Kieran O'Donnell: Has the Government to date made any application for state aid to support airlines in Ireland?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: In terms of Senator McCallion's question, are there any discussions ongoing between the European Commission and the United States around the development of open skies?

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

Kieran O'Donnell: In Mr. Brandon and Dr. Connors's conclusion, they state, "It is the Irish Aviation Authority's view that Ireland should take a lead in promoting a standard approach to airport departure testing and the removal of quarantine requirements across Europe." They go on to state, as Deputy Lowry said, that, "The technology is there now; the next step is political will and an agreed standard...