A fuel shortage at Dublin airport this week could presage a "summer of chaos" for passengers, Fine Gael's transport spokeswoman has warned.
Olivia Mitchell called for a special Dáil debate on the implications of the shortage, which caused delays to several flights from the airport on Monday.
"Dublin airport this week suffered its first-ever fuel crisis in peacetime. This extraordinary incident resulted in a number of flights being delayed and forced several airplanes to take fuel en route to Dublin," Ms Mitchell said.
"Given that the airport was bursting at the seams only last weekend, with 12 lines of passengers queuing at the security gates, the summer months are going to be chaotic. The ongoing overcrowding also raises questions about safety levels in the airport, both in terms of security measures and the capacity to deal with an emergency," she added.
Such a fuel shortage was worthy of a Third World country, she said, and was an embarrassment for one of the strongest economies in the EU.
A spokesman for Dublin airport said the shortage of aviation fuel, which lasted between four and five hours on Monday, was "a supply issue" caused by difficulties transporting fuel from Dublin Port.
Ms Mitchell called for immediate measures to improve "the chaotic conditions" for passengers and airport workers. She said the problem suggested the need for a fuel supply pipe to run from Dublin Port to the airport.