Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

I thank the Minister for his reply. However, it is not true that this was the first serious malfunction. A malfunction with the secondary surveillance radar, SSR, system also occurred on 5 and 6 June. Today the Irish Independent and The Irish Times report we have had five spectacular failures in as many weeks.

The secondary surveillance radar system was supposed to be space-age technology with a related computer management system. It is extraordinary that we have this rate of failure. How many times has it failed during the past year? At the time of the previous major failure in early June, did the Minister order any investigation? If so, what investigation did he order? Did he ask the IAA to report in full on this matter, the SSR system, the computer system and all aspects of safety at Dublin Airport? Was he aware of this, anticipating this and ensuring the safety of travellers?

Do we need fundamental changes in the system? I understand controllers feel they are effectively blind part of the time because the transmission which gives the blip on the screen is late or does not appear exactly as the aircraft is approaching and transmitting the information.

Yesterday, holiday-makers and business travellers were bewildered and upset. Does the Minister agree little information was given to people? People were left standing in queues. I received a phone call from a would-be passenger standing in a queue for two or three hours. He did not receive any information on when he would be able to get a flight to Liverpool.

I do not always agree with Michael O'Leary of Ryanair but I do agree with him that what happened yesterday was an unacceptable shambles at the major airport gateway to this country. Under the European directive, will the Minister ensure all holiday-makers and business passengers will be fully compensated? Will the Minister ensure the IAA fully compensates all passengers who were so badly treated yesterday?

Is it time to order a full safety review of all systems at Dublin Airport? Will the Minister publish the Irish Aviation Authority's engineering and other reports into the radar system? Will he give us guidance on whether similar systems at Cork and Shannon airports have had similar problems?

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