Plans to use the army as an emergency response to congestion at Dublin Airport have been slammed by the representatives of rank-and-file troops.
Mark Keane, president of PDFORRA which represents 6,500 soldiers, claimed the move “uses the Defence Forces as a form of cheap labour”. He questioned if members would be required to undertake regular duties as well as working at the hub and said there are health and safety issues.
Mr Keane told RTE: “The Commission on Defence highlighted this, saying there was a custom and practice of using the Defence Forces as a form of cheap labour and this demonstrates that.
Read more: Dublin Airport says following one rule will ensure you're on time for a flight
“Six months on we still haven’t seen the investment we badly need. Not alone on the personnel side with, but also in the equipment.
“So this is just another example of the Government launching these great policies, with great fanfare, and then that it goes on the back burner.” Conor King, general secretary of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, warned drafting in the army could be a “blow to morale in the organisation”.
However, Ryanair has welcomed the Government’s decision to use troops.
Denying it’s “skivvy work”, its CEO Eddie Wilson said drafting in troops will “free up 100 of the DAA’s security staff so passengers and families can get through quickly and enjoy a well-deserved break”.
He added: “Things have gone well since May 29 [when 1,400 people missed flights]. Let’s do a little bit of planning here. It is the right thing to do.”
Ryanair first called for military intervention in March but this was rejected by Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Defence Minister Simon Coveney until Tuesday’s U-turn.
Read more: Deploying soldiers at Dublin Airport will have 'domino effect' on rest of troops
The Government finally agreed after Transport Minister Eamon Ryan proposed the idea to Mr Coveney on behalf of the DAA.
Sinn Fein enterprise spokesperson Louise O’Reilly said: “The Government repeatedly said they weren’t going to ask the Defence Forces to go to the airport, but, as usual, it’s lastminute.com. There was no consultation.”
Hildegarde Naughton, a Minister of State at the Department of Transport, said she hopes military intervention will not be necessary. But she added: “I don’t want to see the Defence Forces deployed but we have to prepare.”
Read more: Defence Forces to undergo training immediately to be on stand-by at Dublin Airport
The soldiers are to receive basic security screening training and will be on standby amid concerns about further staff shortages due to rising Covid-19 cases.
DAA spokesman Graham McQueen said the airport had around 600 security staff in April and has been recruiting to bolster numbers by another 300.
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus apologised yesterday to passengers as it cancelled 12 more flights out of Dublin, saying it had faced “considerable challenges”.
Read more: Soldiers hit back at being asked to 'compensate' for poor management of Dublin Airport queues
It comes after a string of axed flights in recent days. A spokesperson said: “Due to a spike in Covid cases Aer Lingus has been forced to cancel six return flights from Dublin today.
“Our teams are working to secure alternative travel options for customers in each case.”
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