Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On the issue of the legal advice, I received that last September and I advised the House of that at the very earliest opportunity. I cannot remember the date off hand but it was the earliest opportunity after that legal advice had been given to me.

On Fingal County Council having the competent authority as a separate unit, we are determined on one principle alone, namely, that Fingal County Council does everything to ensure it is both independent and is seen to be independent and if a separate unit is necessary, then that is a good idea. I assume it will do that. It is an internal decision for it but when that sort of independence is required, I would have thought that Fingal County Council will decide to do that and I would be very surprised if, building on its experience in dealing with the airport's development in the past, including noise issues, we did not get a decision where there was a single separate unit. I do not know, as Fingal County Council will decide internally. It would be correct for me to question-----