Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak to the Government's amendments Nos. 1 and 2, which seek to remove two amendments we passed on Report Stage in this House. Like several other amendments, the Minister saw fit to have them removed in the Seanad. The Government refused to allow time for a proper debate, but was happy to push through the Minister's amendments. This shows a shocking disregard for the democratic process. All this was facilitated by Fianna Fáil, which says one thing to local residents and then stabs them in the back by supporting the Government. I was happy that Fianna Fáil supported the two Sinn Féin amendments that passed on Report Stage in the Dáil, but by facilitating this farce in the Seanad that work has been undone. I hope that party will redeem itself today by voting with the Opposition against amendments Nos. 1 and 2 to ensure the health and well-being of residents is prioritised.

The two Sinn Féin amendments put the health and well-being of local residents on a statutory footing. One ensured the inclusion of a clause which sought to include the well-being and health of local residents in decision making on noise at the airport, and the second put an onus on the authority to report on the effect its decision had on local residents and how their requirements were taken into consideration. The Minister will argue that the health of residents is covered elsewhere in EU regulations, but there is no reason it should not be included in our national legislation too. This is about safeguarding the health of people, and it should be given legislative backing. The Minister has said on a previous occasion that including it in this legislation will give health and well-being a precedence over other considerations. So what? That is entirely reasonable.

From the start, local residents have felt completely left out of the process and have legitimate concerns around planning issues. These amendments encourage consultation with local residents. Trust in the noise regulator and related authorities has taken a battering, and there are serious concerns about retrospective changes to planning for flights and other developments at the airport. The retrospective changes that will be made hereafter are the main concern of residents. The health of the residents is being put at risk, and it is imperative that consultation takes place with them, and that their health and wishes are taken on board by the competent authority - An Bord Pleanála - at the airport. The two amendments passed in the Dáil on Report Stage will provide for that input from residents. We will oppose the two Government amendments and support the amendments to amendments from the Labour Party and also from the Independents and the Technical Group, namely, amendments Nos. 1 and 3.

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