Government need to set out a roadmap for air travel
The Government need to set out a roadmap for air travel according to the Labour Representative on the Oireachtas Covid-19 Response Committee, Duncan Smith T.D
Deputy Smith said:
“As Labour Transport Spokesperson and as a Deputy who represents an airport constituency, I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by airport workers. The airline industry has been decimated and many of these workers are concerned about mass redundancies in the coming months.
“At the Covid Committee, the acting CMO Dr. Ronan Glynn confirmed to me that he does not see NPHET advice concerning travel arrangements and restrictions changing over the coming months or the resumption of widespread travel.
“We know we will be living with the virus for some time to come and that it will not be possible to eliminate the spread of Covid-19 entirely. While the current travel regime reflects public health advice it is unsustainable in the long term for those who work in the airline industry and indeed workers who need to travel regularly not to mention our own tourism industry.”
“The Government need to go much further than publishing a ‘green list’ of countries and outline a roadmap outlining the different scenarios for air travel. Airport workers have told me that they are in a hopeless situation and that they need certainty and clarity. We need a vastly enhanced regime of testing and tracing at airports with a mandatory enforced quarantine for travels that are supposed to isolate themselves on arrival.
“The current mixed messaging simply isn’t good enough. Dublin airport and the ancillary industries are the biggest employers in Dublin Fingal. We need leadership from Government and a roadmap outlining different scenarios in relation to air travel.
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