Ryanair, Europe’s largest passenger airline, today (Mon 30 June) welcomed the publication of “A Pathfinder for Irish Aviation” Report, prepared by two leading aviation experts and Irelandia Investments Group. This no-nonsense publication sets out, in a concise format, the enormous potential for Ireland to grow its aviation sector and by doing so, rapidly expanding Ireland’s key employment generators – tourism, FDI and indigenous Irish industry.

Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, said:

“This “Pathfinder” Report has distilled four concrete policy proposals, which our Govt should implement urgently. Ryanair calls for the immediate implementation of these policy recommendations to; (1) boost pilot training in Ireland, (2) remove APD tax in Northern Ireland, (3) immediately scrap the (unlawful) traffic cap at Dublin Airport and (4) advance the rapid development of MRO aircraft and engine repair facilities on the island of Ireland.

Our new Govt, led by Micheál Martin, have now spent 6 months in power. Regrettably, zero progress has been made to stimulate aviation on our island nation. Despite all their talk, there has been zero action to implement real change on Infrastructure and on Aviation. A Govt with a 20-seat majority and a secure 5 year term, does not need 6 months to pass legislation to scrap the absurd and unlawful traffic cap at Dublin Airport, or to remove our airports from the dead hand of local planners in Fingal Co Co or the misguided incompetence of An Bord Pleanála.

We have had a new Transport Minister for 6 months now, yet still nothing moves in Transport. This Dept is run by clueless, incompetent civil servants, who produce little other than reasons why “nothing” can be done. We call on Minister Darragh O’Brien to urgently move legislation to scrap Dublin Airport’s illegal traffic cap, and to urgently implement the 4 ambitious proposals in this “Pathfinder” Report. Another six months of inaction by the Dept of Transport is more than enough delay. Ireland’s Transport Dept should implement change or sack the useless civil servants responsible for Aviation and replace them with new people committed to growing Irish Aviation to mirror the way Ryanair has grown traffic, tourism, and jobs across Europe.”