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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Ciara Phelan

Dublin Airport bosses 'can't guarantee' chaotic scenes won't be repeated, says Eamon Ryan

Dublin Airport bosses could not give a guarantee to the Government that chaotic queues which saw 1,400 people miss their flights on Sunday would not occur again.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan made the revelation following a meeting with Dublin Airport Authority on Tuesday.

Thousands of people are expected to fly out of the country in the coming days as secondary schools finish up and the June Bank Holiday approaches.

Read More: Dublin Airport to refund passengers who missed flights but hundreds will still be out of pocket

When asked by the Irish Mirror if senior airport officials could guarantee that the issues would be resolved, Minister Ryan said: “They said they cannot guarantee... that’s what I heard from the Dublin Airport Authority today.

“But that doesn’t mean that they don’t have the obligation now to do absolutely everything to avoid it.

“What we said is that you have to do everything in your power [and] the Government will do everything to support [you] so we don’t see those scenes again.

“First things first, you have to provide a proper service to the public, you can’t have someone queue for two to three hours and not get a flight, it’s just not acceptable and it can’t be tolerated.

“The airport has to manage its operations so it doesn’t occur.”

Minister Ryan also said airlines should “step up” and make sure the check-in desks are as quick and as fast as can be but “it’s the airport’s first and foremost responsibility.”

He said the airport was coping well up until Sunday despite demand and pressure but that doesn’t excuse what happened.

He added: “They’ve to get back now to make sure it doesn’t happen this weekend and during the summer.

“It will be tight because the numbers are rising dramatically.”

Minister Ryan said four issues were discussed at the meeting between airport management and Government Ministers.

This included what changes officials can make to avoid queues and so the pattern of how people arrive at the airport doesn’t add to the problem.

They also discussed having sufficient resources so all of the security lanes are open at peak times.

How the airport is planning to manage over the summer because demand is expected to increase and also how they plan to compensate 1,400 people who missed their flight.

Government Ministers have told the DAA to clearly communicate to the public on Wednesday on how it will resolve “nightmare” queues at Dublin Airport before the weekend.

The DAA has been blamed for offering “rubbish” contracts to workers which has led to the chaotic queues and thousands of people missing their flights.

Minister Ryan also confirmed that 1,400 people missed their flight on Sunday and will have to be compensated by the DAA.

Airport officials told Minister Ryan that the DAA plans to maximise staff and increase the number of security lanes at peak times to help cope with the demand.

In a statement following their meeting, Ministers said they have told CEO Dalton Philips that they have 24 hours to clearly communicate their plan and to deliver a satisfactory experience for passengers departing from the airport this bank holiday weekend.

Management have come in for some sharp criticism from Opposition TDs as they blame the contracts being offered to workers.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said security staff are not being given the respect they deserve as the contracts being offered mean workers don't know how many hours they will be given each week.

He said the "absolute chaos and shambles" at Dublin Airport is the result "of the DAA making redundant hundreds of employees during the pandemic and then trying to replace them with people on absolutely rubbish, flexi, low paid contracts and that is at the heart of the chaos.”

Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said Dublin Airport can’t use a “sticking plaster or PR approach” to address the issues.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Dublin Airport is at only 70% staffing capacity and claimed what happened at the weekend was entirely foreseeable.”

Public Expenditure Minister, Michael McGrath who stood in for the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions warned the DAA that the events at the airport last weekend must never be repeated.

He said that passengers will have to know "exactly what is ahead of them" so that they can plan properly ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.

CEO of the DAA Dalton Philips is expected to face a grilling as he faces TDs and Senators at the Dail’s Transport Committee on Wednesday.

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