Decrease in numbers is reflective of the economic crisis and compounded by the inability of DUB to be able to spread risk both geographically and in terms of actual airlines serving the country.
It is rather simplistic and insulting to the intelligence of the general public to imply DAAs charging structure is the main reason for the - 3.5 million PAX decline, but the situation looks rather hopeless.
If it were a game of chess then they don't appear to have very many valuable pieces or moves left on the board. Even at this late stage, unless they adopt a successful strategy they will find them selves in checkmate.