Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Members who contributed this afternoon. Senator Kyne kicked off by speaking about the scenes we all witnessed in Dublin Airport, the very significant queues and those who missed their flights. Other Members raised similar issues around the airport, namely, Senators Gavan, Sherlock, Conway and Maria Byrne. I am happy to report that the Leader of the House boarded a plane this morning from Terminal 1 and, in her own tweet, said that she arrived at the airport at 4.20 a.m. and was through to the gate at 5.45 a.m. for her 6.50 a.m. flight. It seems things have improved today and it is good to acknowledge that. I can imagine that, for staff morale, it was difficult to watch one’s workplace receiving such negativity, even though it is understandable that people were annoyed.

It is also worth acknowledging that other international airports such as Heathrow and Schiphol in Amsterdam are experiencing similar problems, so we are not alone in that regard. This is also to acknowledge that we can do a great deal better and it is welcome that Dublin Airport is refunding passengers and acknowledging that it has to compensate people for loss. That does not compensate for the stress involved, particularly if you are there with an elderly person or with young children and are not able to get through to your flight.

Certainly there are questions to be asked, as Senator Sherlock said, around why we are struggling to attract staff. We had two years where, effectively, we had no air travel. The airports completely closed operations to a certain extent, they have to build back up and it has not been that easy. There is a longer lead-in time to vet staff because of the place in which they are working and the additional responsibilities which staff working in that space have to protect that gateway to the country, as referred to by Senator Sherlock.

I also take on board what the other Senators have said, such as Senators Gavan, Conway and Maria Byrne around rebalancing and the fact we have other international airports like Knock, Cork and Shannon that could be doing a great deal more through the scheduling of flights out of those airports to try to rebalance across the regions. There is a commitment from Government to do that and I know that my own local Ireland West Airport Knock is back thriving again and is a very significant resource to the region. Many people use this airport not just for holidays but for getting out to work every week. People fly out and fly back in again. It is important to support the regional airports.

Senator Malcolm Byrne spoke this about twice completing the Stockholm marathon - well done on that. I would not even attempt one, never mind two.