Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt ar an mBille um Thorann Aerárthaí (Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath) a Rialáil (Feidhmeanna a Aistriú), 2024. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta Duncan Smith. I thank him for the effort that he has put into this Bill. It addresses an important issue, namely how we manage the impact of a growing airport on the surrounding environment and local communities. This Bill recognises that the current framework guiding the regulation of aircraft noise is not fit for purpose and a change in approach is needed.

The current framework is guided by the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019. Importantly, this Act designated Fingal County Council as the aircraft noise competent authority. Sinn Féin pointed out the Act's shortcomings at the time, all of which have come to bear. This has led us to the situation that we are in today. At the time, we raised serious questions about the capacity of Fingal County Council to act independently, which was supposedly a key condition of its designation as ANCA, especially if sufficient resourcing and staffing was not put in place. We also raised the importance of health and safety issues and of following international best practice but, unsurprisingly, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael chose to ignore our constructive engagement and rejected our amendments at the time, which was disappointing and frustrating. It is even more so today, especially since many of the concerns that we raised then remain concerns today. I am sure my fellow Deputies, Graves and O'Reilly, will tell the Minister of State about the ongoing issues that their constituents face in the area.

As Sinn Féin transport spokesperson, I recognise the importance of a robust regulatory framework in order to shore up support for sustainable expansion and to rebuff claims of illegitimacy. As a small, open island economy, Dublin Airport is strategically important. It is central to our economy and essential to its growth. It is essential that the growth is managed properly and that the needs of local residents are not just treated as collateral damage, as we heard earlier on. We must strike the correct balance. Sinn Féin has always supported the development of Dublin Airport. What we do differently to Government is that we advocate for both strategic and responsible development. These goals are not unique. If done correctly, they can go hand in hand. We want to ensure that Dublin Airport can operate a good neighbour policy. Effective regulation is central to this and a properly resourced, independent regulator has always been our priority.

We also believe that the State's regional airports should be treated as a clear strategic priority, especially in the delivery of balanced regional growth. As it stands, more than 84% of all flights in the State are processed through Dublin Airport. Many of these arrivals, upwards of 40%, go on to travel to different parts of the island where other regional airports are closer. I want to speak for a moment about those regional airports, which are more than just transport hubs. They are lifelines for communities, engines of economic growth and gateways to the world. From Donegal to Knock, and in my constituency, Kerry, these airports connect rural Ireland to global opportunities and ensure that no corner of our country is left behind. For example, Kerry Airport was founded in 1968 with a modest grass runway. Over the decades, it has expanded significantly, with major upgrades in the 1980s and 1990s, including a new terminal and extended runway to accommodate larger aircraft.

It is now a vital link for residents, tourists and businesses alike. It is trending higher in 2025 than in 2024. I pay tribute to John Mulhern and his team at Kerry Airport. There are four new French routes, including to the Dordogne. There is a new arrivals area. The departures area has been expanded in an impressive way. The airport has good cash reserves. There is a massive private aircraft facility and a business there also. Whether it is facilitating tourism to our landscapes, supporting local enterprises with efficient logistics or enabling families to stay connected across borders, Kerry Airport is a pillar of regional development. While more research needs to be done, there is a strong case for development of our regional aviation infrastructure.

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