Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The amendments I am tabling are accepted on foot of considerable deliberation. I have had regard to legal advice on the matter and the advice of the draftspeople in the Office of the Attorney General. Reflecting that deliberative process, I am tabling these amendments, to be placed under the relevant parts of the Bill which specifically set out that the noise regulator will ensure that health aspects are assessed in accordance with the relevant legislation when considering the noise situation at the airport. I believe these amendments, when taken with the assurances that the 2002 directive and 2018 environmental noise regulations will apply, will allay any fears that health aspects are being ignored.

I thank all of the Deputies for their contributions on this matter this evening, last week and on Committee Stage. In particular, I know that Deputies Troy, Darragh O'Brien and Clare Daly followed up with my Department after Committee Stage to reinforce the importance of this Bill clearly referring to health as a part of any noise assessment. Those Deputies pushed hard for a solution. We sought legal advice and found the best way forward. We have a much better Bill as a result of this engagement. I thank those Deputies, and indeed all Deputies who contributed to the Bill. It has improved specifically in the health area. We have all been pushing in the same direction. The main difficulty has been that some of the amendments tabled are not as legally robust as those we have tabled in order to meet the requirements of the Members of the Opposition.

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