Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

323. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the cost of training the Defence Forces to help with security at Dublin Airport and putting them on standby for same will be reimbursed to the Exchequer. [36130/22]

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

331. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost to the Exchequer of training the Defence Forces to help with security at Dublin Airport and putting them on standby for same; and if that cost will be reimbursed to his Department by the Dublin Airport Authority. [36129/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 331 together.

At last Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Government supported a request from the Minister for Transport for members of the Defence Forces to undergo training and certification and to be on standby to assist the daa with the provision of aviation security duties at Dublin Airport.  

While I recognise that the role of the Defence Forces is not normally to assist in the provision of services for a commercial airport, I agreed to this request on a clear assurance that this is a distinct piece of work, provided in extreme circumstances, as a short-term emergency related contingency action and is in direct response to a letter from daa management to the Minister for Transport. The request is clearly defined in terms of the role and timeline, lasting no more than 6 weeks, in non-public facing duties.

Members of our Defence Forces are undergoing an immediate period of training and will stand ready to assist if the need arises. The Defence Forces will only be deployed if assistance is requested by the daa and in a scenario where there is a significant deterioration in passenger queuing times with a risk of large numbers of passengers missing their flights. The support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed. The daa have given assurances that they will continue with their own recruitment and onboarding of additional security staff and the introduction of other mitigations during this period.

The full details of this support are currently being worked out between the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the daa. This includes the modalities for the reimbursement to the Exchequer of all costs by the daa. The  support is being provided on the agreement that the daa will pay the full costs of the service provision, including salary costs, allowances, training, certification and management costs and the cost of having the Defence Forces personnel on standby.