James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not an item relating to the Estimates but I am happy to give a short comment on it. I do not think there is any aviation estimate in the current pack but given it is a very topical issue, I am happy to briefly engage with the Deputy on it.

On yesterday's decision, and I have said this many times but it is useful to say it on the public record, the passenger cap at Dublin Airport is not a function of or a matter for decision by the Government. It is not a decision of any Minister, Cabinet or Government. It is a planning condition imposed by An Bord Pleanála in 2007. An Bord Pleanála, as with all planning authorities, is independent of government and the political system. It is important that all stakeholders and observers are aware of that because those issues are sometimes confused. I welcome the clarity yesterday's decision brings. I publicly welcomed it in a statement yesterday. Planning processes lag behind the growth we have seen at Dublin Airport and the economic growth of the country. The decision perhaps affords a little time to the planning authority to complete its work. I encourage the DAA, as the airport management team and agency with responsibility to manage the airport, including compliance with planning conditions, to continue to engage with An Bord Pleanála and Fingal planning authorities. It has done that but I would like to see that engagement continued and expedited. I expect that will happen. I have spoken to all parties involved and encouraged them to see that this is not an issue where delays should feature.

When I came to the Department, I was quite surprised to see that this cap has been in place since 2007. I was surprised at the apparent lethargy of certain players on the pitch in moving it forward. It has gathered momentum of late. It would have been preferable if this had happened four, five, six or eight years ago, but it is happening now. The decision to place a stay on that gives some breathing space but it should be used wisely and productively in the interim. All those actors need to seriously engage now and move forward so that this situation does not reach a crisis point again in the near future.

On flight paths and residents, I held a number of meetings with residents, including residents in the Deputy's area. I thank him for making some introductions on that. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, gave me a list of groups in the Deputy's area. I also met with residents in the north Dublin area and wider area around the airport. I am sure the Chairman has met residents in that area as well. I met with some of the Chair's people, if I could put it that way, as well. It was very important that I did that and that those voices are heard in the debate. They are also very important stakeholders. I will not comment in too much detail about the discussions or outcomes because some of that is subject to planning, legal constraints and current processes. I will say that I took careful note of those discussions. I have had subsequent conversations with the DAA, among others. I am confident that there is - I will not say flight path - a path forward, which it is to be hoped will be to the satisfaction of all. We are a little bit away from that yet, but I certainly noted the views of residents and expressed those in summary form to the relevant stakeholders with a view that they should be taken up and taken seriously. I expect that will happen. There is probably not a whole lot more I can say about that.