Queues at airport back to normal

Delays at Dublin airport departure gates because of improved security have been brought under control, the Dublin Airport Authority has said.

Passengers faced queues of up to half an hour at the security entrance in recent days to allow for "enhanced" security measures.

The authority was forced to review its security procedures after lapses were exposed during an EU security audit at the airport since Monday.

Officials from the European Civil Aviation Conference and the Department of Transport carrying out the audit managed to carry a replica bomb and knives through security checks.

The authority placed advertisements in newspapers from yesterday warning passengers that they may face delays.

The advertisement asks passengers not to carry items which would require "additional checks", and to ensure they arrive at the airport 90 minutes before their flight.

By yesterday afternoon the queues to enter the departure gates were normal.

"The ads certainly helped. Asking people to keep out items that require extra checking speeds things up hugely," said a spokeswoman for the authority.

Passengers reported that they were required to remove their shoes, belts and some jewellery.