Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach and I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Her contribution underlines the difficulties that the aviation and airline sector feels and is experiencing at present. We were on the precipice of Covid-19 this time last year. Prior to that, Ireland was renowned as a hub for the aviation industry with 50% of leased aircraft connected to Ireland. Our economic considerations, allied to political and social considerations, were favourable. That is why this debate is critical because it is about people and jobs, be they in the hospitality, aviation or airline sectors. In her contribution, the Minister of State recognised the profound and gargantuan sacrifice made by those who work in this industry. Some 250,000 jobs have been lost in a compendium of both hospitality and the airlines. Aviation and associated businesses tell us that Covid-19 has hit the aviation industry more than any other sector. When we start back again to travel, we will be starting from zero. If we look at the passenger numbers and tourism figures into Ireland, they have, as the Minister of State has rightly said, fallen off the cliff. Our airports are central and critical to the recovery of our country. If we look at Cork Airport, for example, it had 2.6 million passengers in and out in 2019. Today it is a fraction of that figure.

We must look beyond 2022 and I understand the approach of the Government and of the aviation task force. I contend we need to plan by having a reconvening of that task force, with a timeline and action points that can be developed to ensure the rescue of the biggest indigenous employer in our country.

People must fly into our country and by and large they do. I ask that the Government meets representatives of the airports, airlines and travel agents to create and protect new jobs. This week, I was given a virtual briefing by Cork Airport and it was completely sobering. I acknowledge and pay tribute to the staff of all of the airports and airlines for the sacrifice that they have made and endured. We must invest in our airports, which is why I commend the Minister of State's speech on mentioning the Cork Airport significant runway overlay project. I hope that the Government will approve it and that it can begin quickly.

The travel agents of Ireland are a forgotten group of people. They are critical for us as a country, have been generally supportive of what the Government has been doing and have received some financial supports. There must be a link between Government support and advice and restrictions on travel.Travel agents want to see their sector being mentioned in a positive way similar to the hospitality sector - the pubs and restaurants. The Government should not forget our travel agents. They are the human interface for so many people. As we heard yesterday, it is very easy to register a .iedomain name and trade from outside the country. Our travel agents are a significant business. They turned over €1.4 billion in 2019. They are regulated by the Commission for Aviation Regulation. They are Irish owned and Irish based small and medium enterprises employing more than 3,500 people. In normal times the sector is profitable as consumers book with travel agents and they benefit from that enhanced consumer protection, which could be lost if many of them go. We need a further debate about the protections for consumers in the travel industry in the context of Covid-19. We need to protect Irish travel agents because if we do not, the market will move overseas, which is not good for us as a nation. The inbound market brings in approximately 11 million passengers every year, which accounts for 75% of our tourism product spend. All of us, in the context of Covid-19, should stop demonising our travel industry and instead support it to manage the risk with a balanced approach to how we can safely resume travel, including international travel, which we need to try to do.

The issue of Aer Lingus and the staff of airlines has been raised with us by the Irish Air Line Pilots Association, IALPA. The Minister of State knows the figures that have been invested by the British Government in the likes of Lufthansa, British Airways, Air Portugal and even in the loan to Ryanair. It is imperative that we do not let Aer Lingus fail. We have a collective duty to ensure it survives because as the Minister of State said in her contribution, connectivity for us as an island nation is critical.

I commend the Minister of State on her work. We must plan for the resumption of international travel, whether in quarter 4 of this year or next year, with all of us having been vaccinated. I hope that we, as a Government, can do that in the context of this country being an island nation. It will take years for the industry to come back. The Minister of State might consider the reintroduction of The Gathering and other tourism incentives to attract more travellers to Ireland. I thank her for her engagement.