Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Troy. I agree with much of what he said. The interests of the residents are immensely important on this issue of noise regulation in particular but also on the development of the second runway generally. I do not know whether the Deputy is aware that I have met several of the residents' groups individually. Some of them were brought by members of the Deputy's party to meet me, and I listened to what they had to say. I am concerned in particular that a State monopoly should not be allowed in any way to railroad a project like the north runway against the interests of the residents without hearing their legitimate complaints. There are approximately 200 residents involved. That is a lot of people, and there is no doubt that some of them have to suffer unthinkable noise in their homes. The new system of monitoring noise is very welcome. It is being given to the IAA and, for the first time ever, a separate unit within the IAA will be set up specifically to deal with noise regulation. In addition to that, under the EU regulation and within its specific mandate it will speak to the residents and consider their complaints.

The question about the statutory instrument is a fair one. Our intention is to do this by secondary legislation before the end of the year. A couple of issues are still being considered in the Attorney General's office in terms of whether it will be necessary to introduce primary legislation, but that will be decided in the next few weeks.

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