SOME PASSENGERS FLYING from Dublin Airport may face new security screenings, an air safety official has confirmed.
The chairman of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee, John Fearon, today confirmed that “additional security procedures” would be applied to aircraft leaving Dublin for other EU destinations.
However, he stressed that the airport was “safe for passengers, aircraft and all users of the airport.”
Speaking after a meeting of the committee today, Fearon said he was “not in a position to publicly disclose” the findings of an EU audit. He echoed similar comments from transport minister Leo Varadkar yesterday. However, Fearon acknowledged that:
Two particular deficiencies were identified. On this basis, some additional security procedures will apply to aircraft departing from Dublin and arriving into other EU airports.
He said the extra security would not affect many travellers, but that some passengers transferring through another EU airport may be required to go through screening for a second time.
Budget carrier Ryanair today called on Fine Gael to “honour” a 2005 call for an independent audit of security at Dublin Airport. “The DAA and DoT [Department of Transport] are clearly not fit for purpose,” spokesperson Stephen McNamara claimed.
However, Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said the previous call related solely to overcrowding at the airport, and said Ryanair showed a “willingness to twist the truth” that was “astounding”.
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