Members of the Defence Forces are set to undergo training so they can assist with long security queues at Dublin Airport.
At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, the Government has supported a request from the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, for members of the Defence Forces to undergo training and be on stand-by to assist the Dublin Airport Authority if required.
In a statement, Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Simon Coveney said: “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 have 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.
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“The request is clearly defined in terms of the role and timeline, lasting no more than six weeks, in non-public facing duties. Over the last number of days, I consulted with the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy on this request.”
Members of our Defence Forces will undergo an immediate period of training and stand ready to assist if the need arises. However, this support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed.
The DAA has 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, according to Minister Coveney.
The Department of Transport said this was prompted in case there was Covid-19 surge.
A spokesman said: “The risk of a case surge among its staff has prompted the daa to request the Government to put in place contingency planning that would allow for the short-term deployment of the Defence Forces to assist with operations at Dublin airport should it be required."
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