Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
172. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for Ireland’s implementation of the digital green certificate for European Union travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23711/21]
View answer173. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the preparatory work undertaken by his Department to aid the implementation of digital green certificate recently passed by the European Parliament; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23712/21]
View answer184. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he plans on aligning Ireland with the new European Union travel proposals to open non-essential travel to the fully vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24000/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 173 and 184 together.
On 17 March 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for a Regulation to introduce a ‘Digital Green Certificate’. The aim of the proposal is to facilitate free movement in the EU through a common framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of certificates relating to vaccination, testing and recovery.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Health is leading on this legislative proposal and careful consideration is being given to the proposal and its many policy, infrastructural and operational implications across a number of sectors in Ireland. The Government recognises the importance of the Digital Green Certificate proposal in supporting the lifting of restrictions currently in place in a coordinated manner and facilitating the fundamental right of people in the EU to move and reside freely within the EU.
On 29 April 2021, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position in relation to the proposal. The Department of Health has been engaging constructively in the technical discussions to date at EU level, in collaboration with relevant Departments, to ensure Ireland can achieve alignment in relation to a return to international travel for non-essential purposes, as soon as it is safe to do so. Technical negotiations to agree a final text are ongoing between the European Parliament and the Council and should be concluded in the coming weeks. Ireland is engaging proactively in this negotiation process as part of the Council to ensure Ireland’s priorities and needs are realised.
The ongoing public health restrictions on international travel are having a profound impact on Ireland’s connectivity and the Irish aviation and maritime transport sectors.
Since the beginning of the pandemic the Government has provided over €200 million in direct support to the Irish aviation industry. These supports include the wage subsidy scheme, waiving of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) Working Capital Scheme, with some of these now extended to 30 June 2021. Liquidity funding is also available through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund for medium and large enterprises.
In November 2020, in recognition of the very difficult circumstances facing the aviation sector, the Government agreed a revised funding package of €80 million specifically for Irish aviation in 2021. A part of this package, €21 million, is being provided to the regional airports programme which gives funding certainty to those airports up to 2025 (Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West airports). In addition, €32 million is being provided to Cork and Shannon airports through a new one-year Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme. A €26 million Irish state aid scheme to compensate airport operators for the losses caused by Covid-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by Ireland to limit its spread. The scheme will augment the supports already in place and help the industry to maintain connectivity and make a recovery from the impacts of Covid-19.
International connectivity is critical to economic development by providing a key enabler of trade and business generally including foreign direct investment and tourism. While acknowledging the primacy of the protection of public health, there is increasing need for clarity on a roadmap that will allow the aviation and maritime transport sectors to plan for the reopening of international travel, and I will work with my colleagues across Government to ensure such a roadmap is put in place.
