Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is No. (11). The proposed health impact assessment which is put in there is new wording. We cannot introduce new terms to this.

Subsections (2) and (3) of section 9, as I have said, are directly from EU regulation 598 and, as I have explained, I am not able to amend in any way the requirements set out in an EU regulation. That message has to be hammered through because that is legal advice. I am not able to amend it in any way. It is in the regulations.

The health of local residents is a hugely important and vital issue, as evidenced in the regulation. I do not want to repeat this ad nauseam, but putting into legislation something which is already in the regulations seems strange and unnecessary, but it is important and not contradictory to say that and point out that it is in the regulation.

The health of local residents is hugely important. Article 1 of EU regulation 598 sets out that the objective of the regulation is "to facilitate the achievement of specific noise abatement objectives, including health aspects". The very purpose of the regulation, and therefore this Bill, is "to limit or reduce the number of people significantly affected by potentially harmful effects of aircraft noise, in accordance with the balanced approach". Article 1 has direct effect, in addition to regulation 598 and other existing European noise and environmental directives which this Bill interlinks. I am assured that health aspects are already embedded in this legislation.