Government Ministers have told the DAA to clearly communicate to the public within 24 hours on how it will resolve “nightmare” queues at Dublin Airport before the weekend.
The DAA has been blamed for offering “rubbish” contracts to workers which has led to the chaotic queues and thousands of people missing their flights.
A second meeting took place between Government Ministers and senior management at the airport on Tuesday morning.
READ MORE: Dublin Airport to refund passengers who missed flights but hundreds will still be out of pocket
Officials told Green Party leader Eamon Ryan that the DAA plans to maximise staff and increase the number of security lanes at peak times to help cope with the demand.
In a statement following their meeting, Ministers said they have told CEO Dalton Philips that they have 24 hours to clearly communicate their plan and to deliver a satisfactory experience for passengers departing from the airport this bank holiday weekend.
The DAA also updated Ministers on how they intend to compensate passengers who have missed flights and indicated that they are currently finalising operational arrangements.
Management have come in for some sharp criticism from Opposition TDs as they blame the contracts being offered to workers.
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said security staff are not being given the respect they deserve as the contracts being offered mean workers don't know how many hours they will be given each week.
He said the "absolute chaos and shambles" at Dublin Airport is the result "of the DAA making redundant hundreds of employees during the pandemic and then trying to replace them with people on absolutely rubbish, flexi, low paid contracts and that is at the heart of the chaos.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy said Dublin Airport can’t use a “sticking plaster or PR approach” to address the issues.
She said it was insulting to the Army to suggest they should be deployed to sort o9ut the problems.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Dublin Airport is at only 70% staffing capacity and claimed what happened at the weekend was entirely foreseeable.”
Speaking in the Dail, she said Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan’s response was “a day late and a dollar short."
Public Expenditure Minister, Michael McGrath who stood in for the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions warned the DAA that the events at the airport last weekend must never be repeated.
He said that passengers will have to know "exactly what is ahead of them" so that they can plan properly ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
He said the Authority should answer detailed questions at the Oireachtas Transport Committee tomorrow where TDs will have the opportunity to question CEO of DAA, Dalton Philips.
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