Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I note and welcome the Deputy's consistent interest in this issue. As she is aware, the Government has agreed to my proposal to pursue an accelerated process in support of draft legislation to give effect to EU Regulation No. 598/14. Before the summer recess, I presented an outline of the proposed legislative approach and a detailed timeline for its implementation to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, very shortly after it had been endorsed by the Government. I also directed my officials to brief other Members of the House on the same matter. I understand a number of advisers attended in place of some Members.

Good progress has been made during the summer. My Department, in close co-operation with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, has been working in accordance with the agreed timeline, which envisages the publication of a Bill at the end of October and anticipates a speedy legislative process to make it an Act by the end of the year. This is a challenge, but every effort is being made to ensure it happens as planned.

The complexity in the drafting of this Bill should not be underestimated given that there is significant amount of interaction between Regulation 598/14, the 2002 environmental noise directive, and our domestic planning and development framework. It is important to note that the EU regulation requires full public consultation before the competent authority makes a final decision about noise related operating measures or restrictions at the airport, and we are working to ensure that the Bill will afford all stakeholders the opportunity to express their views.

The Bill will also provide for an independent appeals process, with An Bord Pleanála to be appointed as the appeals body. As I have said in this House, I have every intention of bringing forward a Bill that strikes a balance between the rights of local residents, the DAA as the regulated entity, and the broader national interest, in recognition of the crucial importance of our primary national airport.

As a next step, a general scheme of the Bill will be presented to and discussed in session with the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport within the next few weeks in accordance with pre-legislative scrutiny arrangements. The formal Bill will then be finalised during October in advance of being presented to this House in very early November. I am more than happy to keep Deputies apprised of developments as we move through the next month or so, and I very much hope that this will allow broad support for the Bill when it is presented.

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