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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Donegal-Dublin flight and Lebanon

Summary

Deputy Doherty first urges action on Israel, including stopping war bonds sold through the Central Bank, then raises the Donegal-Dublin flight and the Dublin Airport passenger cap. The Tánaiste agrees the regional air link must be preserved and says it can be sorted.

With the Ceann Comhairle's indulgence, I will just say that my thoughts and those of the party are also with our troops in Lebanon and with UNIFIL. I am glad to hear from the Tánaiste that they are all accounted for. It is clear that Israel has crossed another red line and has to be held accountable. There are actions we can take. I ask the Government to join our call for the Central Bank to stop issuing the war bonds that Israel is selling through this country.

I will raise the very serious matter of the Donegal-Dublin flight with the Tánaiste. It is the State's only public service obligation air service. It has that status because Donegal has no motorway and no rail connection and because of its remoteness. The airline operating the service has been told it has to reduce its passenger numbers by 5%. The chairperson of the airline has said that this brings the viability of the service into question. The service is vital not just for tourism and business but also for the 430 cancer patients who currently use the service to access treatment in Dublin. This is Ireland's only public service obligation flight. Surely, the passenger cap should not apply to a public service obligation service. I ask the Government to make that clear to the relevant authorities.

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I agree with the Deputy. I will have to follow this up with the Minister. Is the Deputy talking about the Dublin Airport passenger cap?

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The Dublin passenger cap now applies to the Donegal flight that lands at Dublin Airport.

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That has to stop. We need regional connectivity. The north west particularly suffers from a lack of connectivity by rail and by road, because of the A5 debate. We have to keep the air links to the north west open. If I had my way, I would prefer Derry to also have an air connection. This is something that can and needs to be sorted.

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