Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Ó Brolcháin's remarks on the ash cloud that has enveloped the country and created a crisis for the airline industry across Europe. I ask the Leader to consider inviting the Minister for Transport to the House because the decisions that have been taken in the interests of public safety are having a devastating effect on an already weakened economy as they trickle down. If the opportunity arises, I would like to inquire why the suggestion made on television last night by Mr. O'Ceidigh, CEO of Aer Arann, on has not been adequately addressed. He has pointed out that the aircraft his company uses have turboprop engines and fly at an altitude of between 10,000 ft. and 15,000 ft., significantly below the 20,000 ft. no fly limit imposed by European aviation regulators. He stated in an emergency he could fly people between this country and England. Although the proportion of our goods exported by air is, at approximately 2%, relatively small in the overall scheme of things, they primarily comprise valuable pharmaceutical and medical products. We will be facing a crisis in this regard if the matter is not resolved in the next couple of days. As the volcanic eruption appears to alternately intensify and decrease, we do not know for how much longer it will continue. In the national interest, therefore, it is important to hear from the Minister on the steps being taken to minimise the adverse impact on the economy.