Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has a point about the delay. I regret the delay, which has arisen because the legal aspects of this matter are being looked at. I said I hoped to have it done by the end of the year. It is now five or six weeks late. I suppose in some ways it is indicative of the fact that the Office of the Attorney General is determined to ensure the rights of the people represented by Deputy Clare Daly are not infringed and are protected. I have always been determined to ensure the State monopoly does not ride roughshod over the rights of anyone, particularly the residents to whom the Deputy has referred. I hope this delay will be ended very shortly. I asked about it in preparation for Deputy Daly's question when I learned it was coming up. Primary legislation will be needed to alter the Planning and Development Acts to allow An Bord Pleanála and the Irish Aviation Authority to work together at the airport in future. It is not a major issue. I think there will be a statutory instrument. The legislation is not as urgent as the statutory instrument. When both of them come through, I will bring them to the House or the joint committee.

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