Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

"Naturally" is my answer. This is an aircraft noise regulation Bill. The entire purpose of the regulation is to restrict and reduce the impact of aircraft noise. That is a given. We know that it is supposed to enhance quality of life based on a hierarchical system. That does not negate the point I am making, which is that we are not specifying health. The Minister talks about quality of life, but that is not health specifically. Obviously health is an aspect of it. However, because of the impact and the emphasis put on this question by the World Health Organization, WHO, because it is so important, we need to specify that we are not just talking about quality of life as something abstract or nice or an additional extra. It is an integral part of people's right to health. It has a severe impact on their mental health, their well-being and their physical health if they do not get enough sleep and if they are intruded upon negatively by noise. My point is that while we know the legislation refers to quality of life, nowhere are we specifying health. It has to be specified if we are to give meaningful legislative scaffolding to the regulation.