Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)

I acknowledge Deputy Smith for bringing forward this legislation. For a resident and somebody who is representing people in the affected area, it is a matter of dire importance that some regulation is put in place. Sinn Féin has always had concerns on the potential conflict of interest with ANCA as the noise regulator. This is not least because of ANCA's and Fingal County Council's financial dependencies on the DAA. ANCA is based within Fingal County Council. The Minister of State should do a quick Google of the executive staff within Fingal County Council. There he will see the director of ANCA listed among the other members of staff in Fingal County Council. There are questions on conflicts, which diminish ANCA's capacity to act independently. This link between Fingal County Council and ANCA, whose role is to monitor and regulate where necessary for the management of aircraft noise in the communities around Dublin Airport, remains a real concern for local residents and groups representing those affected by aircraft noise, in particular, St. Margaret's and The Ward group and Fingal Organised Residents United Movement, FORUM.

They represent more than 30,000 people across Fingal and Meath. This is not an issue that just affects Swords, the airport and its surrounds. I represent the people of Fingal East and each of the areas - Swords, Malahide, Donabate, Portmarnock and Portrane - are affected by aircraft noise. It is not just the areas in close proximity to the airport.

Sinn Féin submitted amendments to the 2019 Bill, proposing taking a balanced approach: incorporating the International Civil Aviation Organization's agreed hierarchy of measures designed to reduce the impact of noise, and the WHO's night noise guidelines for Europe. Sinn Fen's amendments also proposed the Commission for Aviation Regulation should be the regulator and that the average noise exposure would be reduced to below 40 decibels at night and that an assessment of the impact on the well-being and health of local residents be undertaken. These amendments were defeated by the Government, which included the current Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien, who is a TD who represents the people of the area, so Sinn Féin voted against the Bill.

Changes to planning conditions require planning applications and an approval process. The conditions were set to manage noise, traffic and environmental impact. The conditions also included delivering on the infrastructure deficits, including the road network, which have not been addressed. For anybody living in the area, trying to get in and out of Swords is impossible. We were supposed to invest heavily in the roads around the airport and that has not happened. The DAA acknowledged the airport will exceed 32 million passenger numbers both in 2024 and 2025. In fact, the DAA has breached many of its planning conditions from the outset.

Of major concern is the deviation from the agreed flight paths and the proposed changes to night-time flight times. These will have a major impact and repercussions on the health and well-being of residents living in the areas affected. Deputy Smith spoke about cardiovascular disease, sleep deprivation and broken sleep patterns. That is a regular occurrence for people who live there. If the number of flights at night-time people's health will deteriorate. Looking at best practice, many airports in Europe and internationally are now reducing their night-time flights because they acknowledge their impact on the mental and physical health of those living in areas where aircraft noise is an issue.

ANCA, in its role as a regulator of aircraft noise, ruled in January 2024 that the applications in relation to passenger caps require an assessment of the need for noise-related action. As a former councillor in Fingal County Council, I consistently questioned the breaches of the planning conditions by the DAA, particularly in regard to the deviation from flight paths and the impact this has had on residents. No one wants to stand in the way of progress. I recognise the DAA is a major employer in the Fingal area. I have in the past and will continue to champion strategic but also responsible development but the DAA is not a good neighbour. We need to strive for balanced development along with addressing the impacts on local residents.

It is interesting the Minister of State noted the Minister for Transport has been communicating with people. We have had multiple public meetings throughout the area. Each of them has been a sell-out with full houses at every single time. All of the local representatives have attended them but the Minister has never shown his face at any of them. He is not discussing or consulting or communicating with the residents. He may be talking to Kenny Jacobs, Michael O'Leary and other key players but he is certainly not talking to the residents in the areas affected.

The way to achieve a good relationship with the DAA is effective regulation and, to this end, an appropriately resourced and independent regulator is a priority for Sinn Féin.

I have and will continue to support the regionalisation of the Irish aviation industry to address regional imbalances in the sector and drive much-needed economic growth to different parts of the country. I am delighted to see there is an increase in the number of flights in and out of Cork, which is another DAA airport. There are other airports that also need to be utilised and Deputy Daly mentioned a lot of them. We have a great road network, particularly from Shannon. We can use those airports and it will reduce the number of flights into, and the dependency on, Dublin Airport, and help to rebuild our more rural areas.

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