Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

Is the Minister aware that about this time last year, reporters from a Sunday newspaper attempted to bring bomb-making equipment through Dublin and Shannon airports? They had no difficulty in doing so and wrote an article about it. Subsequently I asked a question of the Minister's predecessor. Will the current Minister tell the House about the system in his Department to monitor airport security? His predecessor said that he had full confidence in the airport security system and that it was being constantly reviewed by this committee, which is chaired by his Department. The committee assured everyone that there was tight security to the highest standards at Dublin Airport. How did Dublin Airport so spectacularly fail the standards required by this EU committee when last year the Minister's Department assured everyone that everything was under control and that it was perfectly happy with the security standards in Dublin Airport? What role, if any, has that committee played in the Department over the past year? Why was it not aware of what appear to be serious lapses in security, as revealed by the EU committee?

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