I wish to raise the scenes in Dublin Airport over the weekend. We all watched on with a sense of dismay and bewilderment at the scenes of would-be travellers crammed into the departure lounge, some unable to go on their holidays owing to the absence of security staff. What assurances has the Government sought from Dublin Airport Authority that these scenes will not be repeated? Although 1,000 redundancies were offered to security staff in Dublin Airport during Covid, only 100 people have been rehired. There is a rehiring process going on at the moment, offering €14.40 per hour for 20 hours guaranteed and another 20 hours of flexibility. That will not be enough to secure the essential staff needed to ensure that the airport is secure and well managed.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, in the Department of Transport will be engaging with Dublin Airport in respect of this. There are issues with recruitment. Notwithstanding all the challenges facing the economy, the reality is that we have never had so many people employed. We have had real challenges with recruitment of staff in key sectors of the economy since we emerged from the latest Covid crisis. We will do everything we can. There are existing workplace arrangements to deal with the latter point the Deputy raised.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I beg your indulgence and that of the House. Deputy Bacik asked me earlier about diplomatic expulsions. I do not want to be accused subsequently of not fully informing the House. As her question was coming through, the Department of Foreign Affairs had indeed summoned the Russian ambassador. I was loath to override what would be normal diplomatic protocols. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention, four senior officials of the Russian Embassy have been asked to leave the State because their activities are not in accordance with international standards of diplomatic behaviour. I received security advice yesterday and the Minister for Foreign Affairs also received security advice. Yesterday I met our national security team. Under Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention, we have taken these actions. However, we believe that diplomatic channels between the Russian Federation and the State should stay open in the interests of our conveying our abhorrence of the war, maintaining diplomatic channels as a principle and protecting Irish citizens in Russia and elsewhere.