No body scanners planned for Shannon

AIRPORT security is back in the news after events over Christmas but there seems to be little prospect of Shannon Airport Authority introducing body scanners in the near future.

A spokesperson for the airport said that there were no plans for the scanners and that it would be a matter for the Department of Transport.
In a statement, the Department said their introduction wasn’t on the immediate horizon.
“All Irish airports with ­regular commercial flights are required to comply with the requirements of EU regulations and the National Civil Aviation Security Programme. Aviation security practices and procedures implemented at Irish airports conform to European Union common rules and to the highest standards internationally.
“These practices and ­procedures are subject to monitoring by the ­Department and are also the subject of periodic reviews by international organisations, such as the EU Commission and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“The use of body scanners as a method of screening passengers is not currently approved by the EU but they have been trialled at a number of EU airports.
“It is likely that the use of body scanners will be discussed further at EU level over the coming weeks.”
Body scanners are to be introduced at UK airports in the near future, while they are in use in some US airports, where the ­issue of their use has provoked debate.
It’s thought that their use at the new pre-clearance facility at Shannon would be a matter for the US authorities.
Meanwhile, Leo Walsh, chairman of the Mid-Western Regional Authority, said that the incident in which a Slovakian man brought explosives through Dublin Airport was an indictment of security at Irish airports.
“What happened at Dublin Airport was scandalous and the media and politicians seem to think it’s just ­something unfortunate.
“I hope it never happens in Shannon.”