Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the meeting today is to consider the extreme delays recently experienced by passengers at Dublin Airport and the detailed plans and solutions of the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, to address this. I am pleased to welcome Mr. Dalton Philips, chief executive officer, CEO, of the DAA, who is accompanied by Mr. Gary McLean, deputy managing director, Dublin Airport; Ms Catherine Gubbins, group chief financial officer; Mr. Vincent Harrison, managing director, Dublin Airport; Mr. Maurice Hennessy, chief information and security operations officer; Ms Louise Bannon, head of marketing; Mr. Brendan O'Hanlon, head of ER-IR; and Mr. Kevin Cullinane, group head of communications. I thank Mr. Philips for agreeing to meet the committee on this important matter at such short notice. Obviously, we wait with great interest to hear the outline of his plans.

Transport falls within the remit of our committee, but this is really about the public today. The meeting is being screened live on RTÉNewsNow. What the public want at this stage is reassurance that if they turn up at Dublin Airport over the June bank holiday weekend they will be able to get their flight and they will not be in the airport for an inordinate amount of time, as well as future plans for dealing with this.

I must read a note on privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also remind members that the Constitution requires them to be physically present in the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not able to meet this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be reluctantly asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member participating using Microsoft Teams to confirm that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making his or her contribution. Members attending in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

I invite Mr. Philips to make his opening statement.