The Defence Forces are to be put on standby to help with security queues at Dublin Airport.

Soldiers will now undergo training and sit certification tests to allow them to help with security duties as needed.

It comes after airport operator DAA voiced concern about the risk of a COVID surge among security staff.

In a statement, the Defence Minister Simon Coveney said the Transport Minister Eamon Ryan had requested the Defence Forces assistance.

Emergency

He said he agreed to the request on the basis it was “a distinct piece of work, provided in extreme circumstances, as a short-term emergency related contingency action”.

He said the army will be available for non-public facing duties for a period lasting no more than six weeks.

“Members of our Defence Forces will undergo an immediate period of training and stand ready to assist if the need arises,” he said.

“However, this support will be stood down in August when the busy holiday period has passed.”

COVID

Minister Ryan made the request after the DAA asked the Government to put in place contingency planning due to the risk of a COVID surge among staff.

The DAA believes that its current operational plan is working effectively; however, it wants the army trained up in case there is a COVID surge later in the summer.

This afternoon, Conor King General Secretary of Defence Forces representative body RACO said the group wants more clarity on what’s expected of its members.

“Once again, the Defence Forces are turned to in the country’s time of need and we will undoubtedly step up as the State’s insurance policy,” he said.

“But there is a concern that this is another example of the Defence forces being used as emergency cover to compensate for management decisions in other State bodies.

“So, we need absolute clarity on the type of role our members will be expected to perform, what their working conditions will be and what compensation they will be receiving for their work.”

Airport

Minister Ryan said he does not expect to see the Defence Forces deployed at the airport.

He said they will only be deployed when requeted by DAA and when there is a “significant deterioration in passenger queuing times with a risk of large numbers of passengers missing their flights”.

DAA said it expects to have optimal levels of security staff recruited, trained and deployed by August.