Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague Deputy Troy for sharing time.

I have attended briefings with the Minister's officials and I have attended the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. I have also spoken to the Minister directly on this issue. I have lived beside the airport my whole life and I am aware of the importance of the airport, not only for our local economic area development but also for the national economic development: some 20,000 direct jobs, more than 117,000 indirect jobs and €8.3 billion of value to the economy. It is a really important piece of infrastructure. As my colleague has outlined, it beggars belief that we have waited this long for this Bill.

I acknowledge the presence in the Visitors' Gallery of many residents from communities like my own that will be affected, and who have lived beside the airport for all this time under the existing runway. All of these communities have acted responsibly and have been reasonable. Nobody is saying that the second parallel runway should not be built. It is nothing like that. If one positive thing comes from this legislation it is that at last it should deal with some of the outstanding issues, namely the voluntary sales scheme operated by the Dublin Airport Authority, which leaves a lot to be desired especially in the St. Margaret's and the Cloghran areas. Another outstanding issue is the insufficient noise insulation scheme that does not cover enough houses and does not look at the flight path under the new runway.

As my party spokesman has said, it is very important to note that the Bill requires major amendment. I am still not convinced at all that we cannot use the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, or the Commission for Aviation Regulation, CAR, as the regulator. I still have grave concerns about the competency within Fingal County Council to do this. This is in no way to besmirch that council. I know that it is an excellent local authority, as the Minister has said. I work with the council every day of the week, but the Minister reasoned in his statement that: "It is empowering local government, allowing a local authority to make local decisions." This issue is not just about local decisions and that assertion is absolutely incorrect. This is about the establishment of a new noise regulator for an international airport through which 30 million passengers will travel this year. It is a busy airport that will grow further.

Since my days in Fingal County Council in 2004 I have consistently supported the development of the airport, but a responsible development that makes sure the airport operates a good neighbour policy. This is all that people want. The residents want to be listened to but they and I also want to ensure that when the DAA moves forward and looks to set aside or amend the current planning conditions, especially around the night flights, that we have someone who is independent to look at that. It is important that people's quality of life in Dublin Fingal, where I live and where I have spent my whole life, is protected and is balanced with the future economic growth of the airport. We know how important it is for jobs. Thousands of us who live in the community, including my friends and neighbours, work in the airport or derive their income from the airport. This is a good thing.

Nobody in any of the communities is saying to stop and not to do any more. That is not what this is about. It is about a fair, open and transparent process. It is not about setting up a regulator simply to look at the planning conditions. This must be a noise regulator into the future, for the future development. Whatever we do now has to stand the test of time. This is why I welcome that my party colleague and Deputy Clare Daly are ensuring that we are not rushing into Committee Stage. This is not what I want to do. Through my own party spokesman I intend that we would table a series of significant amendments to what has been produced here. It is gravely disappointing that we have waited this long, over two years, for this. I believe that there are better authorities and organisations in the State that could be beefed up, such as the CAR and the IAA. I am also aware of the need to allow future economic growth, but it has to be balanced with a good neighbour policy with our communities in north Dublin. They need to be listened to and they need to be absolutely clear that whatever process is used into the future is independent and transparent.

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