Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for being here. This matter is redundant because neither the Minister for Transport nor his Minister of State is present. I appreciate that they have schedules and business to attend to but I tabled a Commencement matter on the review of the national aviation strategy. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, in his previous capacity as a Minister of State at the then Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, would have a knowledge of tourism. However, he never held a transport brief within that Department. That is a matter for another day, however.

The review of the aviation strategy is important because ours is an island nation. I appreciate that the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, which is chaired by Deputy Kieran O'Donnell, has started a process in this regard. The review is about regional airports. It is about the need for Cork Airport and Shannon Airport to continue to qualify for funding from the regional airports programme. The review is about ensuring that the connectivity in the short-haul fleet is enhanced in order that we can continue to have an open economy.

I had hoped to have a dialogue with the Ministers from the Department of Transport, particularly because I am of the view that regional airports must be at the heart of the aviation strategy. Everything cannot go through from Dublin Airport. It will come as no surprise that I will take this opportunity promulgate the importance of Cork Airport. Because Cork Airport is Ireland's second busiest airport, it is important that it is at the heart of the national aviation strategy.

Ireland is an island nation on the western edge of Europe. We need the aviation sector. It is critical to us. We are very lucky to have Ryanair. We also have Aer Lingus, which, on foot of an admission made to me this morning at a meeting of the joint committee, has reduced its short-haul fleet due to Covid. However, as we all know, we have emerged from Covid and are in a recovery phase in aviation. With that comes the matter of sustainability in terms of aviation fuel, which is an issue that also needs to be addressed as part of our aviation review policy. It is important that we have an aviation policy that reflects the regions and that, as a result, reflects the importance of Cork and Shannon airports.

I appreciate that the Minister of State has come before the House. I could talk for my remaining four minutes, but I am not going to because, in fairness, the Minister of State does not hold a brief in the Department of Transport.