Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will begin by welcoming the swearing in of the new American ambassador, Ms Claire Cronin. The house majority leader was sworn in yesterday in Boston in a very historic setting on the house floor. I congratulate Ambassador Cronin on her appointment and wish her every success as she takes up her role here in Dublin. I propose that we invite Ambassador Cronin to address the Seanad as soon as possible. She comes to the House and to her post as American ambassador with impeccable credentials, not least her Irish ancestry but also being the house majority leader in Massachusetts.

I also ask the Leader for a debate on aviation and do so in the context of two points, the first being the announcement today by Ryanair of its largest ever announcement of flights for the summer schedule out of Dublin. I congratulate Ryanair on that, conscious of the fact that a report by PwC shows that it will take at least three more years for aviation to recover.

We need a debate on the issue of the aviation sector and also on the travel recovery support scheme being used by Government. I hope that the Government will not cease that scheme immediately, that we will have a debate and there will not be a cliff edge. It is important that we have this debate on aviation urgently. I would appreciate if we can do so.