As the Taoiseach will know, the weekend announcement from Lufthansa regarding the review of the Lufthansa Technik base in Shannon affecting up to 500 jobs has sent shock waves through County Clare and the mid-west region. Today, we heard that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, announced yet another task force; here we go again. This follows numerous task forces and reviews, which have amounted to nothing. This is an urgent issue that requires urgent action. I call on the Taoiseach to intervene and engage with the stakeholders in the mid-west region, for example, Shannon Chamber and the workers affected, and implement recommendations. More than 13,000 people in County Clare have signed a petition in County Clare to save Shannon Airport.

The Government is absolutely committed to Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and all the airports and ensuring we can protect them, particularly given the impact of Covid-19. Deputies and Senators should always reflect on the policies they announce one month as opposed to what they announce the second month. I am amazed at how everybody who was advocating for zero travel has suddenly had a complete change of mind. I understand it but decisions have consequences too.

Covid-19 has been the main factor disrupting travel and undermining the aviation industry. It was not governments or anything else. Deputies jump up and down and say it is the Government's fault. Covid-19 has disrupted travel. Mandatory hotel quarantine was brought in. The House urged the Government to bring it in much more quickly. The task force was a commitment in the programme for Government for the wider Shannon development area. It is a good thing and will yield good results.

The Taoiseach will be aware of the situation that has developed over the weekend with Lufthansa Technik, Shannon. The company is a major employer in the mid-west, providing 500 highly-skilled jobs. The Government has invested heavily in this critical company over the last 18 months by means of the temporary wage subsidy scheme, TWSS, and the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS. The company has also benefited from the rates waiver. It is critically important that the Government and its agencies engage with this company and secure the 500 jobs at risk. The current strategic review is looking at possible closure, sale or restructuring. It is important that the Government, and the Taoiseach, as Head of Government, provide every support necessary to secure these jobs.

I absolutely agree. Government agencies will engage with the company because they are high-quality jobs. They are important jobs that we want to retain in the country and the region. The whole area in question has been very effective in creating jobs relating to aviation. The Government will do everything we can to be of support to ensure the retention of jobs.