A member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Mr Noel O'Flynn, has called on the Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley, to investigate Ryanair's policy of not paying refunds to passengers who miss their flights.
The Cork TD said he was sure that Ms Foley had received complaints from customers of the airline and she should take legal advice on the issue.
In a letter to Ms Foley, he said: "I should be obliged if you would let me know if you intend taking legal advice on this very important matter; I would ask that this be done in the event that this has not yet happened."
There was no response yesterday from Ms Foley, who was travelling, although Mr O'Flynn said he had been informed she was treating the issue urgently.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport last week heard a robust and flamboyant defence of the policy by the Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary.
He said Ryanair, which has been criticised for not refunding airport fees, had no plans to change the policy. Refunds were paid only when the airline was at fault, he said. Such conditions were embraced in the tickets sold to passengers.
Mr O'Flynn, who is also chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, said: "I was not at all happy with the cavalier attitude of Mr O'Leary at the committee. That type of behaviour might be acceptable in the boardroom, but it is certainly not acceptable in the national parliament."
Mr O'Flynn said he had also written to the clerk of the Committee, Mr Charles Hearne, asking that Ms Foley be called to make a presentation.
He also wanted the Revenue Commissioners to make a presentation on the taxation implications of the policy and said that other airlines should outline their policies.
