Why the delay on Airport Testing asks Smith
Following questions to the DAA CEO at the Oireachtas Transport Committee about Covid-19 testing at our airports, Labour Transport spokesperson Duncan Smith is demanding answers from the Government on why there is such a delay, and why they are dragging their heels on an essential measure to get our aviation sector back in action.
Deputy Smith said:
“Today at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport I again raised the need for Covid-19 testing in Ireland’s airports. I have been raising this issue with Ministers, NPHET and representatives of the aviation sector for 4 months now. We have seen little movement on this from Government and public health officials.
“This is putting thousands of jobs at risk and doing nothing to restore public confidence in international travel.
“It was confirmed to me that the DAA are ready to go with airport COVID-19 testing so why are the Government dragging their heels with so many jobs at stake?
“DAA CEO Dalton Philips today confirmed to me that the DAA have the teams and capacity in place to implement testing and are ready to go ahead with the practice. This is a vital measure that needs to be implemented as soon as possible and the government show no sign of implementing it. Airport testing is happening all over Europe right now. There are thousands of jobs at stake here and this delay from government is completely inexcusable.
“We cannot allow Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party sleepwalk this industry into ruin at the cost of thousands of workers.”