Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the contributors. To be honest, there is no need for Michael O'Leary to be present. From what we have been told, he seems to be fulfilling his duties. He has acknowledged that he has messed up. He took a gamble that did not come through.

This issue arose because of the European Aviation Safety Agency's change in the calendar year. When was Mr. O'Leary meant to implement this regulation? It has only come to light publicly in the past two or three weeks. When did he engage with the powers that be to say that he could be in trouble? Did he ask for a derogation and more time before the change was introduced?

There were lessons to be learned from what happened in 2006 when Ryanair had a shortage of pilots. The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, IALPA, did not call then for a reporting system to be put in place. Was any action taken following that crisis? Maybe it could be considered a mini-crisis. Could lessons have been learned from 2006?

How long has this situation been simmering under the headlines? When did the witnesses become aware that these problems were coming down the road? Did Ryanair seek a derogation to give it time to get out of this trouble?