Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to share my time with Senator Ahearn.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House and welcome this opportunity to say a few words on this important topic. There is no need for me to explain to her the impact that the pandemic has had on the aviation business. There is also no need for me to tell her how important Ireland West Airport Knock is to our region of the west. The airport is a huge addition to the west of Ireland and to the whole region of the west and the north west in terms of connectivity from the point of view of tourism and business. The fact that nearly 800,000 passengers a year travel in and out of Ireland West Airport Knock is a huge bonus for the entire region.

Last year, the Government covered the cost and gave an extra €6 million to the regional airports, which was very welcome. This year, I hope that the additional costs of the regional airports, including Ireland West Airport Knock, will be covered by the Government. The airports have substantial costs in trying to keep going, to keep staff on board and to keep facilities open in order that they are ready to go when things open up fully. Ireland West Airport Knock has opened up and there is a certain number of flights that travel between London and the airport every week, which is very welcome at this time.

A group of Fine Gael Senators met representatives of Aer Lingus not too long ago who told us that it will take Aer Lingus ten years to get back to where it was. As I am sure it is the same for many other airlines, the quicker that the Government can get things opened up fully then the quicker normality will resume. It is unbelievable to think it will take the likes of Aer Lingus, which is attached to one of the biggest airlines in the world, ten years to get back to where it was before the arrival of the pandemic. Its representatives told us it had taken the airline ten years to reach that point and it would be terrible if it took it another ten years to return to that position.

The whole aviation industry is worth a considerable amount of money to Ireland. When one considers all the aircraft leasing, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, all the huge airlines and the duty-free enterprise, the industry is worth a great deal of money to the State and I hope that things would open up as quickly as possible.

As mentioned by previous Senators, the travel agents deserve support as well. My own travel agent in Castlebar is Robert Kilkelly Travel and its owner outlined to me the difficulties that travel agents have and I hope they will be helped as things go forward.