Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I dtús báire cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise the issue of the breach of security at Cork Airport last Sunday. I ask the Minister to indicate in his reply the measures that will be taken to ensure the safety, not only of staff and passengers but of everyone at Cork Airport and other airports.

The breach of the security barrier in Cork Airport last weekend has caused much concern and raised many questions. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or serious injury on the ground at the airport. It is important to note that the frightening events began in Patrick Street, when a member of An Garda Síochána was confronted and attacked while driving his patrol vehicle, which was then taken by the assailant. The vehicle was driven through busy pedestrianised streets before, apparently, being driven through a barricade near the old terminal building at Cork Airport. I commend the bravery of the gardaí involved in the incident. Despite being attacked and having to place themselves in the way of danger, their actions prevented innocent bystanders from also being injured during the course of this incident. Over the past week, we have seen the excellent work that gardaí performed on important public occasions, but this incident shows the risks that each and every member of An Garda Síochána takes when they go on duty to protect all members of our society, for which they must be commended.

In raising this Adjournment matter, I am conscious that airport staff and the travelling public need reassurance. I very much welcome the fact an internal airport security review is under way. The incident last Sunday on the grounds of Cork Airport is serious and poses many questions. If one watches the event on YouTube or RealPlayer, one will see that a period of greater than ten minutes period elapsed before the car ran into a luggage truck bringing bags to an Aer Lingus flight bound for Amsterdam.

The issues raised by this security breach go beyond Cork Airport alone. Given that our airports are managed and controlled by a central body, neither Cork Airport nor Shannon Airport has full autonomy to decide how it is run. Therefore, the issues raised must be considered in the context of all three major airports. Security barriers obviously need to be improved and I call on the DAA to provide funding to upgrade the security of the perimeter fencing around Cork Airport. This incident could have been one with gargantuan consequences. Imagine if a fuel truck or aeroplane had been struck. We must ask if Cork Airport is secure and if its grounds are protected against a terrorist attack.

The Minister should also consider the wider issue of airport security. If such a breach can occur at Cork Airport, could a similar incident not occur at any of the other airports in the State? These events should cause us to reconsider how we operate our major airports and to ask whether they have adequate security staff on duty, whether the powers of the airport police are sufficient to secure a modern strategic infrastructural facility and whether there is a sufficient Garda presence at each of our airports. It is time to reconsider a security and operational model which has been in place for many years. Last weekend's incident has confirmed to us that state-of-the-art security measures should not just be confined to banning bottles of liquids greater than 100 ml on board aircraft, nor should it just be the scanning of individual passengers. It is obvious that we must consider all aspects of a modern airport to ensure that, in so far as is possible, all security weaknesses are minimised. I again thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to place this matter before the House.

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