Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am surprised the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht has supplied an answer in English only, which is not like it because it has given us both on every other occasion. I appreciate that the Minister of State will read as Béarla but, at the least, an Irish language copy should have been provided.

The provision of safe, regular, high quality access is key. The case made by the islanders is that businesses and medical and tourism services on the island are dependent on the air service, which is at the core of delivery. I am disappointed the Minister of State has not been able to say the company will continue the service for sure, although I can appreciate that a budgetary process is ongoing.

I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, would ask the Minister, Deputy Deenihan, or the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, whether they would be willing to sit down with the stakeholders given it is important there would be representatives from the co-ops and the islander community as well as representatives from Aer Arann Teoranta, which runs the service, from the airports and from the Department. The islanders have suggested ways in which this could be averted and money saved while still providing an air service and operating within the parameters required by the Department, which is crucial.