Matt Cooper: The DAA needs a priority check on its decision to do a deal with Saudi Arabia

The Dublin Airport Authority last week celebrated winning a five-year contract with Saudi Arabia, a country notorious for its poor human rights record

Dalton Philips, chief executive of the DAA: Belatedly apologised for long queues at Dublin Airport. Picture: Fergal Phillips

What a week of bad news it has been for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), although undoubtedly the state-owned commercial entity formerly known as Aer Rianta would disagree with that characterisation of its Saudi Arabian adventures.

I’d offer a reminder, if you needed it, that Saudi Arabia is a country that discriminates against women, is a great danger to its LGBT community, and regularly executes people, including 81 men in a recent mass beheading. We ...