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

As we debated on Second and Committee Stages we are left with a Bill very late in the day that had been flagged for nearly two years. We are dealing with an imperfect situation. On Committee Stage I spoke to an amendment tabled by Deputy Troy, our transport spokesperson, about a separate unit within Fingal County Council, to try to find a mid-point. We could not use the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, because of legal advice the Minister said he had received. The Commission for Aviation Regulation, CAR, was resisted. We got a briefing document to say that if my mid-point suggestion was moved the Government would withdraw the Bill. We are trying to find a balanced approach, recognising the fact that I and many residents live in close proximity to the airport and want to make sure that any development of the airport will not have an adverse effect on residents, while also recognising that the airport is an important economic driver for the region, employing over 20,000 people, providing over 100,000 indirect jobs, and is worth approximately €8 billion to the economy. It is not a question of stopping any development but of a balanced approach. When we are left with the imperfect scenario of having Fingal County Council it is even more important at that stage to ensure that additional assurances are given.

We have further amendments to take noise insulation away from DAA which is a sensible approach and to make sure the independent regulator actually has an independent function. When Deputy Munster talks about the likely effect of noise mitigation measures and operating restrictions I am happy that they will be a matter for An Bord Pleanála. We sought this on Committee Stage and it is very specifically mentioned in the Bill. I do not think anyone in this House questions An Bord Pleanála's independence particularly given our experience of it. The board is crucial. I and my party would be completely and utterly opposed to unrestricted night flights. Last week was the first time we heard the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, give an idea of what it was considering. Whoever the noise regulator is those flight restrictions and noise amelioration measures will end up with An Bord Pleanála. A noise regulator and the EU Directive are good for the future development of the airport. If that happens to be Fingal County Council it should be a separate unit within the council, at the very least with a separate chief executive officer, CEO. The different items that the noise regulator should have regard to should be added to the Bill along the lines of Deputy Munster's amendment.

Any future changes will go to An Bord Pleanála. I am better assured now by the insertion of WHO 2018 noise guidelines. That is crucial. That is a big step forward. The clarification given this evening is important because it may have been lacking before now. The noise regulator must have regard to WHO 2018. While it is kind of vague I understand the spirit of the amendment and if it is included I would see no major difficulty unless it has an unintended effect on any other subsections of section 2.

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