Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 3 is very similar to amendment No. 2. We just did some rewording and tidied it up or whatever; it is practically the same so some of my points have been made.

I wish to highlight the importance of including a specific reference to "Night Noise Guidelines". When the WHO emphasises health, it puts the spotlight on night in particular because sleep is critical to health. In addition to drawing the Minister's attention to communities in Fingal, I draw his attention to those in Tyrrelstown and Mulhuddart, and also those in Dublin West, which are on the western approach to the airport and suffer severely because of noise. People can live with noise during the day but at night it is really important that some restrictions be placed on flights to ensure night sleep is not interfered with. I live in Mulhuddart, where, because of noise at night, I noticed it is almost impossible to leave a bedroom window open in the summer. I can only imagine the noise level closer to the airport. It is critical that what I propose be taken into account, irrespective of whatever future developments occur at the airport. It is obvious that it should be included.