Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It has been clear in the past couple of weeks that the DAA's effort to rightsize its workforce — to use its word — was not about reducing the overall numbers because it has since said it is trying to hire at the pre-pandemic level. Therefore, it was about reducing the levels of pay and the terms and conditions. The question we are asking today, which is important, is whether the Minister of State, the Minister for Transport or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform raised any flags. The long-term goal of the DAA never changed. It is still moving ahead with its north runway and still has projections for 40 million-plus passengers moving through the terminals in eight, nine or ten years. Its long-term goals always remain the same, as do its infrastructure investment goals. Its staffing level will now be the same, but with staff on reduced pay and worse conditions. It is clear that the Government did not call it out on that.

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