Mr. Michael O'Leary:

Having a planning cap that is based on a road access restriction is unique to Ireland and, in fact, to Dublin. Noise regulations are operating at most European airports. Most noise regulations measure noise, but we have this blunt instrument that says we will be limited to 65 night-time flights. Night-time is defined as 12 midnight to 7 a.m. That is naught, because aircrafts today are 50% quieter than they were ten years ago. Having a number of flights is completely ineffective because it does not do anything to reduce noise. What we should do in Dublin is measure noise, which is what the airlines have been calling for over many years. As aircrafts get quieter, we believe that the definition of night-time should be moved from midnight to 6.30 a.m. and not 7 a.m. That is because most of our first wave departures take place after 6.30 a.m. and before 7 a.m. Yet, Dublin is the only airport that has a 17 year old planning restriction that relates to road access going to and from the airport.