Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Before I put my question to the Taoiseach, which I have no doubt he will answer in full with a fully amplified answer, I wish him and his the very best for the future, whatever that might bring.

There has been major disruption at Dublin Airport over the past of couple of days. Flights in and out of the airport have been cancelled or delayed and people's travel plans have been thrown into chaos. Some were booked onto later flights, many had to make alternative arrangements and others faced the prospect of booking expensive accommodation they had not budgeted for. Airport users have told stories of being sent from pillar to post when seeking information following the cancellation of their flights and there has been serious frustration, confusion and a sense of "Here we go again". I appreciate that a spell of extreme cold weather presents challenges, and I also accept there have been some knock-on effects from disruption at other airports. However, we cannot shy away from the fact that once again, there has been a real failure to prepare at Dublin Airport and there has not been a word from the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, or from the Government.

It seems the lessons of the summer have gone unlearned.

We have a right to expect that part of the contingency planning for wintertime at a major European airport would be a plan to keep flights going during a cold snap, yet it seems planning for the de-icing of aircraft and runways was only an afterthought, as management was taken by surprise. Once again, we see authorities scrambling around rather than being prepared for a scenario that was entirely foreseeable and we have been here before. In the summer, the failure to plan at Dublin Airport brought chaos and the situation, as the Taoiseach will recall, spiralled out of control because the Minister for Transport failed to get to grips with the crisis. Now it seems the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is asleep at the wheel again.

Christmas is the busiest time of the year at Dublin Airport. Approximately 1 million people will pass through the airport during the holidays. It is a time when people reconnect, when many of our young people who have emigrated will return home to their families and friends, and the only scenes we should see at Dublin Airport at Christmastime are scenes of joy, happiness and reconnection. We cannot have a return to the mayhem that enveloped the airport during the summer. It is the responsibility of the Government, and the Minister in particular, to ensure all preparations are made. Ours is a small, island nation; we rely heavily on our airports to ensure our connectivity with the rest of the world. Along with the personal distress, episodes of significant disruption damage Ireland’s international reputation for business and investment. That is the reality. The Minister must wake up and do his job to ensure Dublin Airport runs properly. We cannot afford more chaos.

Tá an cur isteach mór atá ag tarlú ag Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath doghlactha. Tá an tAire Iompair, an Teachta Eamon Ryan, ina chodladh arís. Caithfidh sé a chuid oibre a dhéanamh agus a chinntiú nach mbeidh cíorthuathail againn san aerfort i rith na Nollag. The Government must step forward and be proactive. There has to be a plan for this. Has the Taoiseach spoken to the Minister about the current disruption at Dublin Airport? Has he instructed the Minister to intervene immediately in order that we do not have a return to travel chaos at Dublin Airport this Christmas?

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