Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for attending. I have a couple of questions. In principle, I support the draft Bill. There was good clarity regarding my colleagues' questions on who will pay. It is the airport authority that will be liable in the first instance. Do the delegates envisage a difference in regard to the collection models of different airports? There is quite a substantial difference between 29 million or 30 million passengers going in and out of Dublin Airport and the numbers going through Shannon, Cork, Knock and other airports. The smaller airports, the regional airports, may well be more challenged than the larger ones.

Let me refer to the total amount collected, €1 million, in addition to the turnover of Dublin Airport, as mentioned by Mr. Gallagher, and the turnover in respect of the IAA. The latter is an incredible organisation. I support it 100%. It is making a reasonably good profit. I do not have the figures in front of me but I remember reading the authority's annual accounts recently. A sum of €1 million is being sought. To me, €1 million is not a lot if one wants to ramp up security to the level I understood was intended. I have a couple questions on that. How do the witnesses envisage strengthening the security? Is there a strategy, game plan or cost-benefit analysis in this regard?

The perspective of the passenger is very important. Sometimes it takes an hour or more to come through passport control in Dublin Airport after an inbound flight. I refer to the flow of passengers through Dublin Airport, primarily from the passengers' perspective but also from that of the airlines. The focus is totally on the passenger and the safe and efficient passage of the passenger. If the delegates have any thoughts on that, I would certainly appreciate them. Is the fee or levy that was mentioned considered in the regulator's assessment of costs in Dublin Airport and the other airports?