Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is well recognised now that aviation globally has probably been one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic because of restrictions implemented by governments, essential as they were at the time. Recovery is in sight now, however. Passenger numbers week on week have started to recover, albeit slowly and from a low base. Projections now suggest passenger traffic will take until 2024 to return to 2019 levels. Airlines are planning for that recovery by looking at closing bases, and they have already done so in Shannon, laying off staff and not reopening some routes. That is happening notwithstanding the provision of supports by states. Ireland has already put significant resources into Aer Lingus in the form of a loan of €150 million and other supports. We understand more support will be required, perhaps again to the tune of €150 million.

Consolidation is now the buzzword once again, however, and this means routing many flights through just one base. More than likely that base will be Dublin, much to the loss of Shannon, the west, the mid-west and probably Cork. While such consolidation may help to return airlines to future viability and profitability, it will also have a devastating impact on connectivity. If the regions of this country are to have some chance of recovering from the impact of the pandemic, then drastic action must be taken to protect vital, strategic connectivity into those regions, especially into the mid-west and Shannon areas.

I call for a debate about a decision the Government must take, namely, to take a strategic investment stake in Aer Lingus. The Government has already invested in the form of a loan provided from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, of approximately €150 million, and perhaps up to another €150 million will be provided by way of other loans. I believe those loans should be converted into shares and that State representatives should take a seat, or several seats, on the board of Aer Lingus to ensure and protect strategic connectivity to Ireland's regions and guarantee the country as a whole is prepared and ready to go the hard yards in helping our society and businesses recover from the awful crisis we have come through.