Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending. I am conscious that a lot of the ground that I might have wanted to cover has already been covered. As one of the few Dublin-based members of the committee present, I can say that Dublin Airport is not just an asset for Dublin; it is an asset for the whole country. I believe that 87% of national aviation traffic goes through Dublin Airport. When something goes wrong, it reflects badly on the DAA, on Dublin and on Ireland. Ultimately, we become a bit of a laughing stock. I know that is the last thing that the DAA wants to happen, and the last thing we want to happen. The DAA is a 100% State-owned company. It is giving ammunition to people who say that the State cannot run things. I do not want that ammunition to exist. Suffice to say, the service has not been satisfactory in any way, as the witnesses have admitted. People presumably missed not just holidays, but also weddings and funerals. It is just not acceptable that people are missing flights.

I have a few short questions not just on the issue of delays, but also on the general passenger experience through Dublin Airport at the moment. Is it correct that 248 of the original staff complement were let go?