Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021
30. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which plans are afoot or in hand to restore air passenger transport activity to pre-Covid levels; if antigen testing or air purification treatment systems can or will be used in the furtherance of this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32415/21]
View answerGovernment has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including the aviation sector. 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 SBCI Working Capital Scheme. Liquidity funding is also available through the ISIF Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund for medium and large enterprises.
The main requirement of all aviation stakeholders has been clarity on a plan to permit the resumption of non-essential international air travel, and Government outlined such a plan on 28 May. This plan brings together the EU Digital COVID Certificates, pre-departure PCR testing, mandatory quarantine, and our public health measures so that international travel can operate safely. An “emergency brake” mechanism will also allow us to respond to the potential emergence of variants of concern. The new arrangements will come into effect on 19 July subject to public health considerations.
The use of antigen testing in relation to international travel is a matter for the Minister for Health in the first instance, and Government decisions relating to COVID-19 testing are based on public health advice.
The third issue (December 2020) of the Protocol for the Management of Air Passengers in light of COVID-19 is available at this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/ab625-protocols-for-international-travel/. This protocol was created with due regard to material and information provided by ICAO, EASA and the ECDC, and does acknowledge the role of HEPA air filters in limiting virus transmission.
While it may take some time for our aviation sector to regain the strong economic position it had at the start of the pandemic, Government has committed to ensuring that there will be no “cliff-edge” to the COVID-19 related business supports that are currently available. On 1 June, Government launched its Economic Recovery Plan 2021 with the goal of achieving rapid job creation and economic growth after the pandemic. This plan sets out new measures for businesses and affected sectors as the economy reopens, and details for existing emergency pandemic financial supports including the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), giving certainty to employers, workers, and for those who need it most. Importantly, this plan also recognised that additional support may be required for the recovery of the aviation sector.
With our vaccination programme progressing, a plan for the resumption of non-essential international travel ready and significant levels of business supports available, aviation is now positioned to begin to recover.
