The Government must focus on restoring connectively at Shannon Airport
and safeguarding strategic routes as rapid testing for air passengers comes
into effect this week, a Clare TD has said.
Deputy Joe Carey was speaking ahead of the introduction of the EU’s ‘Traffic
Light’ system at Shannon and Cork airports from this Thursday, which the local
Fine Gael TD has campaigned extensively for in recent months.
Deputy Carey said: “I’m relieved we finally have lift off in terms of rapid
testing at our airports and this will come into effect for passengers at Shannon
Airport from Thursday.
“I have been calling on the Government to introduce the EU’s ‘Traffic Light’
system to replace the blanket restrictions that have strangled our airports for
months. Rapid testing is vital to restore confidence in our aviation sector
which has been decimated by Covid-19.”
Under the
new ‘Traffic Light’ system, pre-departure tests for passengers flying out of Shannon
will be available from this Thursday. The new Shannon drive-through
Covid-19 testing centre will be located in Coach Park 2 at the airport. Irish
healthcare company RocDoc will provide the private testing service to passenger,
with test results reportedly available within a few hours.
Deputy Carey, who is chairperson of the all-party Shannon Airport Oireachtas
Group, said the focus now must be on “restoring connectivity and getting planes back in
the air”.
The Clarecastle-based TD added: “With the new testing regime in place, the
Government must move now to underpin strategic routes at Shannon – starting with
Heathrow.”
Deputy Carey said that, with Brexit looming, other European hubs such as Paris
and Frankfurt “should also be explored”. He also called on Transport Minister
Eamon Ryan to explore “vital strategic links” to North America, in destinations
such as New York and Boston, by “funding airlines directly in a PSO (Public
Service Obligations) type arrangement”.
The Clare TD said National
Aviation Policy must be overhauled to address Dublin Airport’s monopoly “in the
interest of balanced regional development”. He also called for a new chairperson
for the Board of Shannon Group to be “identified and appointed” as soon as
possible.
Deputy Carey added: “The board itself needs to be strengthened with competent
interested people from the Clare and Limerick area. We can’t expect Dublin-based
directors, irrespective of their competence, to appreciate the critical
importance of our airport for the region.
“The Government also needs to provide a coherent plan for aviation to deal with
the severe short term challenges, but we equally require a medium and long term
strategy involving policy change that reflects Shannon Airport’s position as
the economic driver of the Mid-West and Western Regions.”
