Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is very regrettable that the information from Fingal County Council was not available last week when we were having this debate. Given that it is available now, I would be interested in hearing the Minister's views on the fact that Fingal County Council does not feel capable of being the regulator. There is serious concern among local residents. Those of us who represent them have spoken to them and they have told us they have concerns. Their concerns relate to the health and safety of the people who live in the environs of the airport. They are deeply concerned about the appointment of Fingal County Council as the regulator.

It turns out Fingal County Council is also deeply concerned about this. There seems to be some sort of faith placed in the council that it does not have in itself. The amendments tabled by Deputies Clare Daly and Munster relate to protecting the health of those who live in the environs of the airport. I cannot see that there would be a reasonable argument against them. One amendment calls for an evaluation of the likely effect on the well-being and health of local residents. Given what we know about the impact that noise has on people and their capacity to be healthy, I am not sure there is going to be any difficulty with recording that. I do not know how the Minister would be able to argue against it. Perhaps he has a good argument in his notes that he is going to share with us but I doubt it. What they are looking for are protections that the Minister says he is willing to give anyway. There is no harm in being belt and braces about it if the residents are concerned, as they genuinely are. They are not foolish. They live beside the airport and are accustomed to it as their neighbour. They are equally aware of the contribution that Dublin Airport makes, not just to the local economy but to the broader economy as well. Nobody is trying to argue against that. We are simply proposing amendments that will assist in ensuring that the health and safety of the people who live in the environs of the airport is protected.

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