Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement by Aer Lingus of its intention to restore the route between Dublin and San Francisco. Even though 40% of all international investment in Ireland comes from the bay area of that city, since 2009, when Aer Lingus shut down the route, we have had no direct link with it from this country. It seems that Facebook, Google and the other Internet companies with European headquarters in Ireland have been successful in their negotiations with the airline on this issue. There will now be four flights a week connecting us to what is essentially our largest trading partner. I compliment all those who played a part in this success, including the Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade who led a delegation to San Francisco last year. The importance of this trade link was impressed upon us all during the course of that visit. The issue was raised again at a meeting of the committee last November and on several occasions on the Order of Business and the Adjournment in this House. The re-establishment of the route will be welcomed by everybody in the Oireachtas.