Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State referred to “the sustainable development” of the airline sector. Does he accept that, if the number of passengers is increased from 32 million to 40 million per year, there will be a significant increase in emissions? It is that simple. I believe it was the CEO of the DAA whom I heard on the radio trying to claim that, by increasing the number of passengers, the DAA would be able to invest in electric buses and so forth at the airport and thereby reduce emissions even though the lion’s share of emissions is clearly caused by the actual flights. I do not see it as being compatible with the Government’s commitment to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 and the commitments that will be made over the next couple of weeks at COP28 to envisage expanding the number of flights at the airport.

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