Written answers

Thursday, 11 February 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Airport Policy

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the additional measures that will be introduced to reduce the number of passengers using Dublin Airport as a transit to other destinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7726/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government has adopted a cautious approach to international travel and has worked to ensure that any necessary air travel is done safely.

Ireland is a small open economy and many people depend on trade for their livelihoods. There are also essential supply chains from overseas relying on aviation routes and connectivity bringing food, medicines and other products to Ireland which are critical to our health and for economic activity. Travel is also necessary to allow people to perform essential work, to care for family members overseas and to return to the country. For these reasons international travel has contiuned.

The overall level of international travel has however been reduced markedly due to the measures introduced to restrict the tranmsission of COVID 19. Where flight bans have been introduced passengers understandably have resorted to indirect routings - in the case of the UK such indirect routings are not solely those through Ireland. Alternative measures are necessary to address and risks for the transmission of COVID 19 arising from those those cases. We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the UK and Northern Ireland authorities and will provide support where possible and where required to mitigate against COVID 19 transmisson risks linked to transit passengers.

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