Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I assure him that I will not allow a State monopoly to bully any group of residents, regardless of how small that group is. The Deputy can take that message back to them. It seems to me that State bodies of this sort are always in a position of great advantage over small groups of people. Although I agree that the necessity for the second runway is compelling, it is imperative that those who have lived in the affected area for a long time or indeed for a short time should not have their safe and reasonably quiet residences ruined, and certainly not without adequate compensation. They should be able to reach an amicable agreement with the DAA. When a big body like this is seeking to get its way over a small group of residents, it is an uneven contest. I will be asking the DAA certain questions about the second runway. Permission for it was granted in 2007 and it is now 2016. One would have to look at the appropriateness of that permission now. As the permission was granted until 2017, everything they are doing is perfectly legal. However, it is only fair that the concerns being expressed by the residents nine years on should be considered with a certain amount of generosity.

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