Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not take up five minutes to allow other Members to have their say. Aviation has been crushed by what I call the big C, namely, Covid-19. We all realise that we have to be careful, stick by the rules and regulations and fight Covid but we need to bring into this debate a message of living with the virus while being careful. For this reason, it is good the Minister of State is here and we are discussing the aviation sector. Coming from the west, she is committed to our regional airports. There is no doubt about her commitment in that respect.

I fully support Shannon Airport. Our regional airports, in particular Ireland West Airport Knock, are vital arteries in the economies of the west and north west. They are used by people coming and going on holiday and a significant number of workers use them to get to and from work. These workers are vital to our economy.

I take my hat off to the manager of Ireland West Airport Knock, Mr. Joe Gilmore, and his staff. They have been brilliant and they reflect what that airport is all about. I mention Monsignor James Horan, who took the initiative many years ago and was told by the State that the site at Knock was nothing more than a foggy and boggy plateau and nothing would ever come of it. As the Minister of State and Senators know, the airport at Knock has become one of the greatest developments on our island. It has been phenomenal in providing a vital link for the west. That is why we need supports for the aviation sector, particularly Ireland West Airport Knock. The sector also needs financial support. People say the Government needs money for everything and ask where it will get money but if we do not get aviation up and running, the revenue lost from tourism will have a huge effect on the economy.That will not only be the case in 2021 and 2022 but it will go on for years. We must give the aviation sector financial support, we must improve testing at our airports and we must ensure that we have a plan going forward.

I point out to Members that Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Sligo and Leitrim county councils put forward €8 million in recent years to support that airport. That shows the commitment that exists for the airport and it shows how vital it is.