Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The authority seems to be planning pinning its hopes on quieter aircraft into the future, rather than on hard measures on the ground that have an impact. Those measures are in place at Schiphol, such as mound waves and other things. I asked for that to be considered.

As regards MetroLink, documents were released this year in terms of planning submissions made by Dublin Airport which were deemed by transport officials to be unhelpful in the context of the delivery of MetroLink. I know DAA released a statement rebutting that. Even the focus of its content in terms of getting passengers into the airport, however has been based mainly on car parks, as well as buses. Dublin Airport is not the largest bus station in the country. It has a large number of buses but it is not a bus station. We need MetroLink. Any growth at Dublin Airport should be contingent on the delivery of a high-speed rail link to the airport. The DAA wants to provide for millions of extra passengers each year, but there is no bus system that will be able to cope with that. There is no car parking system that should be able to cope with it. We need a high-speed rail link. We need that capacity for the airport. Reference was made to metro north when the DAA appeared before the committee previously. I need to see a bigger commitment from Dublin Airport to MetroLink, not just as a concept but as a real desire and a recognition that both the airport and the area need it. I do not see how any further growth at Dublin Airport can be given the go-ahead without the delivery of that infrastructure.