Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to discuss this matter. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for formulating policy in the area of aviation security. I also have a statutory function to ensure the monitoring of compliance by airports, airlines and other relevant entities with national and international aviation security requirements. This function is carried out by my Department through the implementation of a comprehensive quality control programme at Irish State and regional airports which aims to ensure that security at Irish airports is at, or exceeds, best international practice.

It is important, however, to note that the actual implementation of security measures at individual airports within the State is, for operational reasons, a matter for the individual airport operator concerned, which, in the case of Cork Airport, is the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA. Therefore, when breaches of security of the kind that occurred in Cork last Sunday happen, it is the responsibility of the DAA in the first instance to deal with the matter.

I have been in contact with the DAA on the matter and it informs me that, on Sunday last, a male driving a Garda jeep at high speed breached the security fence close to the airport's cargo area, gaining access to the ramp area at approximately 4.45 p.m. It subsequently emerged that this man had stolen the jeep from a garda on Patrick Street in Cork city, following a violent assault with a knife. Cork Airport Police immediately responded to the incident and gardaí were notified of the incursion. I understand that at no point did any vehicle enter the live runway area. However, as a precaution air traffic control was notified to hold all flights to prevent any landings during this period. I further understand that, following a chase lasting some minutes, the Garda emergency response unit arrived on the scene and, with the assistance of the Airport Police, restrained the man with the aid of a Taser. He was then arrested and taken into custody.

During the incident at the airport, a garda was injured and some vehicles were badly damaged. I am sure the Deputy will join me in commending all those involved in resolving this incident for their contribution and their bravery on the day. I believe this is the first such incident of its type in the history of Cork Airport. Furthermore, based on current information, I am informed that it appears unlikely this was a premeditated act of unlawful interference with civil aviation. Rather, it was a criminal incident, albeit a very serious one.

Notwithstanding this, I note and share the Deputy's concern on this matter and, in particular, his view that, if possible, rectification measures need to be taken to ensure that the safety of all those using the airport is maintained and enhanced into the future. In this regard, it is worth commenting both on the actions taken immediately following the incident as well as planned future measures. I understand that immediately following the incident, the Garda sealed the area as a crime scene. Furthermore, I understand that all stands and taxi-ways were fully secured in accordance with standard operating procedures prior to being released into operation. Finally, until the fence breach was closed, an airport police officer and a garda were stationed at the gap to prevent further unauthorised access. The fence was repaired within hours and is now fully operational again.

It is worth noting that the perimeter fencing is regularly inspected and patrolled by the Airport Police. The fencing is the same type as is used in the vast majority of airports across the EU and beyond. It complies fully with the European security regulations as laid down in my Department's national civil aviation security programme, which itself is based on the highest international standards set down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

I know this incursion by a vehicle into the critical part of a security-restricted area is being taken very seriously by the DAA and that a review is being undertaken by the Cork Airport security officer, with the assistance of senior security personnel from Shannon Airport and from the health and safety, security and environment department of the DAA. This review will consider what reasonably practical additional measures can and should be deployed to reduce the risk of a recurrence of such an incident. I believe that a review of the incident is also being undertaken by the Garda, the results of which may also contribute to ensuring that the likelihood of such a random and in many ways abnormal event happening in the future are significantly reduced. The outcome of this review may be relevant to all other Irish and EU airports.