Mr. Kenny Jacobs:

Ireland is further ahead than most EU countries when it comes to noise in aviation. We think it is a very serious issue. Thankfully, the trajectory of travel is that newer aircraft are producing far less noise, including the MAX and A320neo aeroplanes, which is good. It is very good that we have a regulator. We take the issue very seriously but Dublin is unique in its location.

On the two runways, some people are looking up, seeing aircraft and saying they did not see them before, but when we had the south and crosswind runways at Dublin Airport, on busy, windy days, aircraft were taking off and flying over Santry, Whitehall and Beaumount. If we compare the situation now to then, ultimately approximately half the number of households are impacted now than were impacted on those busy, windy days. Some households are saying that when they looked up previously they never saw aircraft but they see them now, although these are generally at a height. However, half the number of households are really impacted by the noise from low-flying aircraft taking off since we got two runways, which is a good thing. We will continue to focus on noise and do everything we can. When I go around Europe, Ireland is in a very good place because we take the issue very seriously and are doing things to incentivise airlines, such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair, to have new A320neo and MAX aircraft, which produce 40% to 50% less noise.