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

One always has to deal with the immediate as well. What is happening in Dublin Airport certainly does not inspire confidence. On hearing the update on de-icing, we note the DAA was partially responsible. It has admitted this to the witnesses privately but also needs to state it publicly. Second, the security and staffing numbers are way below what would have been expected. The number is nearly 20% below what DAA said it would be, which is 800. Ms Embleton spoke about next summer. She made a point previously at a meeting that she is concerned about next summer. The number of security staff in place is not sufficient at 645. Six hundred and ten of those are operational and there are 35 trainees. That is only the same number that there were in the summer. In the summer, task force staff who were not front-line staff had be involved. That is no way to run an airport. It is a matter we will be following up with the DAA. I assume the witnesses will meet the authority's representatives daily.