Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to join with other speakers in complimenting and paying tribute to the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, on the magnitude of his work and to wish him and his family every blessing and good luck in the next period.

I ask that the Leader facilitate a report and debate, as requested by other Members, on the aviation recovery task force. I remind Members from counties Clare and Limerick that there is more than one airport in the country and that our aviation policy is now one we urgently need to review and to plan for the future. As an island nation, we very much depend upon our airports, not just Dublin, but also Cork, Shannon and Galway. It is important that we have a debate on the report of the aviation recovery task force. It is also important that debate be taken in the context of the decision of the Government on Monday, to be taken again on 20 July, regarding essential and non-essential air travel.

We should look at the creation of air corridors and the remarks of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, this morning regarding the policing of the 14-day quarantine period. However, it is important we recognise that the aviation industry under the DAA is losing almost €1 million per day, which as Members have stated here this morning, is having an impact on jobs and on the terms and conditions of all workers in the aviation sector. That debate is urgent and should be imminent because it is about ensuring that it is not just members of the public who are informed but also the workers, and that the rights of workers are looked at as well. Planes and ferries have recommenced and people are starting to travel. I met with the management of Cork Airport last week and I was down at the ferry terminal in Ringaskiddy in Cork this week as well. People starting to travel brings its own pressures. That is why the report on the aviation task force recovery plan is very important.