• Hailed as lifeline to travel sector
• Will take some time for benefits to be felt

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe has welcomed the confirmation that an EU Covid travel certification plan is being progressed.

The European Union executives have stated that the ‘digital green certificate’ will cover documents from people who have been vaccinated, people who have not been vaccinated but have documents of a negative test result or recovery from Covid, as well as children with test or recovery documents.

“I’m so glad that European Union nations are starting to coordinate a plan for the resumption of international travel,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This can’t happen soon enough. The aviation and tourism sectors are both on their knees and there is no doubt that these two sectors are the ones most ravaged by Covid-19.

“Unfortunately, they are also likely to be the two sectors to encounter the slowest recovery.

“There is much cause for hope, though, as Ireland and other EU countries ramp up their vaccination plans.

“As countries like Ireland start to vaccinate large numbers of the adult population, we need to look strategically at a resumption of international travel and this is where this certificate’s importance becomes all the more evident.

“While it may not be to everyone’s liking, for the next number of months, I envisage that those who have been vaccinated should be shown more leeway in terms of boarding flights and travelling overseas.

“At a recent Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting, I asked An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for EU Affairs Thomas Byrne to lead this dialogue at an EU level.

“Minister Byrne, I know, has since spoken to number of his counterparts in Europe, with a view to having a safe return to international air travel.

“Airports already have a lot of existing infrastructure to screen passengers as they filter through the concourse – there are multiple security and passport checkpoints and this will add another layer of verification; that being of Covid vaccination.

“There will be some who will say that this is an impediment on their civil rights to move freely throughout the EU but we do also need to consider that Covid has taken away all normal rights and any small measure that can see a restoration of these needs to be expedited urgently.

“I share some of the concerns being articulated by those in aviation and tourisms that these provisional new travel cert plan may take a number of months to agree and implement and I don’t think we can wait that long.

“Without some certainty for the summer season, we risk seeing more volatility in the sector and as Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation, I’ll be using my voice to champion for a rapid progression of these plans at all levels.”

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• Funding approved under Additional Accommodation Scheme
• Two new state-of-the-art classrooms

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement of funding for St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point under the Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021.

Minister Norma Foley has signed off on a new science lab, to include a prep area, a new technical graphics/Design and Communication Graphics room and ancillary works.

“Today’s announcement will be very welcome news for students and staff alike at St Joseph’s, Spanish Point,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This school is known throughout West Clare as being a fantastic one that for many decades has offered a top-class education to the youth of the area.

“These state-of-the-art facilities will help in the modern delivery of science and DCG lessons.

“Since the government took office last summer, I’m glad to say there have been a number of school projects which had been in the doldrums for some time and are now moving along with speed – the biggest locally being the Ennistymon schools amalgamation, which is expected to go to construction in the coming weeks.

“As a teacher, now serving as a government backbencher, I will continue to use my political voice to champion for better educational facilities throughout the county.

“We are fortunate that in Norma Foley we have an Education Minister that is a former secondary school teacher and knows all too well what issues are at play.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Minister to progress developments in Clare.”

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• Additional routes part of €76m tourism investment
• Will be beneficial to locals and visitors alike

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe says a planned investment in Local Link bus services in East Clare will play a major role in rejuvenating the entire east of the county.

Additional routes will be added as part of the Fáilte Ireland backed Shannon Tourism Masterplan for the Lower Shannon Region, which includes Lough Derg, Killaloe and many more communities along the east of Clare.

“There is huge untapped potential in terms of Lough Derg and East Clare’s tourism product,” said Deputy Crowe.”

“For many decades, the entire focus has been on developing the Cliffs of Moher and West Clare’s tourism offering and while this has been great, it has led to an imbalance of tourism development within our county and there has been a neglect of the Lough Derg-Lower Shannon area for too long.

“In recent years, it has been a focal point for Clare County Council with plans now well advanced to develop Inis Cealtra and attract visitors to the historic Lough Derg island and now, over €70m of public money being channelled into developing tourism products for the region.

“Senior Fáilte Ireland figures have told me that they intend to have an approved Local Link bus service in the area, which would enable both tourists and locals to travel on an orbital basis around Lough Derg, taking in Killaloe-Ballina and the fantastic communities of East Clare including Tuamgraney, Oggonnelloe, Scariff, Mountshannon and Whitegate.

“It also provides the opportunity to take in the eastern shore of Lough Derg in Tipperary, with northerly links to Portumna in south Galway.

“I think it goes without saying that this would be of immense benefit to those living in the region but also far easier on tourists descending into East Clare and the Lough Derg region to move freely between communities and stay in different areas.

“East Clare will be specifically targeting slow tourism which is cyclists, walkers and trekkers – public transport will be a major added bonus to those looking at East Clare for their trip.”

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• Report highlights number of shortcomings
• Work has taken place to address issues arising

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the recommendations of a HIQA report into Cahercalla Community Hospital, which will improve the level of care provided at the facility.

A number of non-compliances have been identified in the report which has just been published, and steps have already been taken to address some of the issues that arose.

“Over the past number of weeks, I’ve been in contact with HIQA personally on this matter and I was aware there were a number of inspections taking place at the facility and that this report was being compiled,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This report found a number of shortcomings, some of which I understand have already been addressed, but the remainder of those will be addressed by a new management team contracted by HSE.

“What I’m particularly glad to hear is that from a patient point of view, nothing will change in that there will be no closure or winding down of this facility, which has offered a vital healthcare service for generations – that will continue as always.

“From a workers’ perspective there will also be a continuation in that there will be no job losses; there are changes in how the facility is being managed and an external company now leading up management, as appointed by the HSE.

“I have every faith and belief that they will address any final aspects identified in inspection report that are yet to be acted on but I also have full confidence that every step has been and will be taken to implement the recommendations.

“It’s important to note that HIQA is a regulatory body to ensure that the care offered in such facilities is at the highest standards and I think that the outcomes here should all be seen in positive light.

“Most especially, this is about improving things for the patients and I know that is at the heart of what everybody involved in the running of Cahercalla Community Hospital from the ground up.”

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• Three-month layoffs for inflight and ground staff
• No pay for duration of layoff

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Aviation Cathal Crowe says the announcement from Aer Lingus that it will lay off its Shannon Airport staff for three months is a real blow for the region.

The airline has confirmed that it will be laying off all 129 Inflight Service and Ground Operations staff in Shannon Airport from next Monday, March 8^th, until June 7^th.

The workers will not receive a wage for the duration of this layoff.

“Aer Lingus’s announcement is majorly disappointing and a real blow for its Shannon workers, who have faced almost a year of stress and anxiety about their jobs,” said Deputy Crowe.

“For most of the last year, the state has heavily subsidised the Aer Lingus wage bill first with the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and more recently, the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.

“Whilst the airline is facing significant losses, it has also been well supported – in the last number of weeks, Aer Lingus received a €150m state loan from Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund.

“As Fianna Fáil’s Aviation Spokesperson, I have engaged with the airline and colleagues in government to see if further supports can be put in place so that the Shannon-based workers aren’t left on the breadline.

“More broadly, we need to find a pathway back to flights at the earliest possible opportunity.

“As people continue to be vaccinated on an accelerated basis, we need to examine the possibility of a Covid passport, so that those who have been immunised can take to the skies again.

“I would also question if Aer Lingus should still be continuing to advertise flights from Shannon.

“I’ve been made aware of a number of people who have booked flights for down the line under the illusion that they would be flying from Shannon, only to receive an automated email to say that they will in fact be flying from Dublin instead.

“This, at a time when aviation is at its lowest ebb, builds false hope in consumers and is misleading.

“If they’re flying from Dublin only – which, let me stress, nobody likes – then they need to be honest with customer base at this time.

“Right now, though, my thoughts are with the Aer Lingus workers and their families.

“These next few weeks will be even more difficult for them. I know many of them personally and I’ll do everything I can to help in this situation.”

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