Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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We have been receiving communications. As somebody who lives close to Weston Airport, a small facility with a high level of traffic, I have an appreciation of the level of disruption that a large airport would place on people's quality of life. Obviously, the location of the approach and take-off area of the runway matters. Weather also plays a part in that. Is the Minister in a position to outline the level and extent of engagement of the DAA with residents? Consultation can be a one-way or a two-way street. To what extent are the views of residents being taken on board? Dublin Airport is an extremely important element of infrastructure from the point of view of trading and in the context of its location in the capital.

Finding a balance between both of those will be extremely difficult. Obviously, the Minister has to do that in the context of trying to minimise as much as possible the kind of impact it would have.