Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding the Aviation Recovery Plan 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24491/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As recommended by the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery, the Government has already implemented a wide range of supports for the aviation sector. Chief among these include extending the wage subsidy scheme out to April 2021, alleviation of commercial rates, tax claw back, and the provision of liquidity support which is available to the sector through the Government’s €2 billion ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund.

 The Taskforce’s Final Report also contains a number of other recommendations relating to the provision of further support to the sector; including through stimulus funding to aid recovery. These recommendations are being considered, as appropriate, in the context of the ongoing work to manage the impact of Covid-19 on aviation and the wider economy.

On the matter of implementing EASA’s Guidelines on the return to normal operations following the pandemic, my Department has already published a National Code of Practice for Safe Air Travel. In addition and as indicated in the Government’s announcement of its medium term plan for living with Covid, it is the Government’s intention to opt in to EU plans for a colour-coded risk assessment proposal for European travel.