Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I come back to what Mr. Gallagher said about how we compared with other European cities. How exactly have the other European countries transposed the directive into their national legislation? What competent bodies have been put in place for this purpose? Mr. Gallagher cited as examples countries that used their respective Department of transport as a competent authority. He has said they are more capable of doing it as the competent authority because their Department of transport is responsible for aviation. He has pointed out that in this country that responsibility lies with the Irish Aviation Authority. However, one of the reasons the authority was deemed not to be suitable to be the competent authority was a perceived conflict interest. If it is acceptable in another country, what was the problem here?

Head 3 states the provision designates the competent authority for the purposes of regulation and aligns the functions already undertaken by Fingal County Council under the environmental noise directive with the functions of the competent authority. Is it referring to the 2002 directive? What is the difference between that directive and Regulation No. 598/2014?