Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----even though it has been a Government policy of all parties for the last 20 or 30 years. The Tánaiste also made some comments over the weekend giving voice to the detail of the green certificate, which we have signed up to as a country along with our European colleagues. He also said that if he was in Tony Holohan's position as the Chief Medical Officer, he would be giving the same advice. We have, however, signed up to the digital green certificate along with our European neighbours as part of our commitment to getting the aviation industry up and running.

In terms of Shannon Airport, where I am from and near enough to where the Minister of State is from, we need figures and timelines. Shannon Airport needs to know how much it is getting and when it is getting it, simply because the aviation industry is something that does not happen overnight. It takes time to plan. It takes time to negotiate with airlines, which are also on their knees, and to secure routes. Shannon Airport needs to know, therefore, how much it is getting, when it is getting it and what the multiannual commitments will be.

I agree with other colleagues. We have seen in the Netherlands that there has been a cap on the main airport. That is something that must be look at post Covid. When there is a cap, it means that if airlines want to fly into Ireland then they have to look at other areas. That is not going back to the Shannon stopover or anything like that; it is giving a commitment to our policy of regional development.

We have motorways in this country now that we did not have before. People can commute from one part of the country to the other in a matter of three or four hours maximum. Most parts of the country can be accessed much quicker. Really and truly, when people land into our country, they have choice that perhaps they did not have before. What Shannon Airport does not need are package holiday trips to Lanzarote and that type of thing. The type of business we need going forward and into the future is commercial business and tourism into Shannon, in particular, from North America, Asia and other parts of Europe as opposed to ferrying people from Shannon to Lanzarote.

Aircraft leasing is critical to Shannon. The best brains in the world in aircraft leasing emanated from Shannon. Planes are being grounded around the world, which is impacting on jobs and Irish companies. I have asked previously about the merger between AerCap and GE Capital Aviation Services, GECAS, and how that will impact on the people in Shannon. I still have not received a response. I know the Minister of State has a difficult job, however. I acknowledge the good work she is doing.