Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If we were to go back to the drawing board, as some people are suggesting, we would prolong this for another 12 months. It has taken 12 months to reach this point and prolonging the process for another 12 months would result in any decision taken being adjudicated by An Bord Pleanála. To be fair, that body has been more than favourable to the area's residents in the past. Dublin Airport is key national infrastructure, which supports 117,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Nobody is talking about those jobs, the people who rely on the airport for their livelihoods, the country's reliance on the airport for connectivity or its role as an economic driver.

I have asked the Minister some very direct questions on how he will ensure openness, transparency and robustness. I have asked how he will ensure the staff have the competencies and capabilities necessary to deal with this in an open and transparent manner. I acknowledge that the stakeholders do not have confidence in this procedure at the moment, but hopefully we can build their confidence. I have also spoken to residents, some of whom told me they do not care which body is made the competent authority because they have grievances arising from their dealings with the DAA and the buyout. They would like to see an acceleration of that process to enable them to relocate and get away from the noise the airport inflicts on them.

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