Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I went to St. Margaret's at 5 a.m. to meet residents of the area. I listened to aircraft taking off every three to four minutes. I discussed issues such as sleeplessness and children finding it difficult to find comfort. The people of St. Margaret's are genuinely decent and have concerns for their own welfare, but they also understand the Minister's need to develop Dublin Airport. For example, they understood amendment No. 85 tabled on Report Stage in the Dáil would, by restricting the decibel average to 40dB by night and 45dB by day, make the airport unworkable. They were prepared to adjust their thinking on that issue. They were anxious to meet those involved in making the decisions. I understand the Minister met some of the local communities. Clearly, the people of St. Margaret's believe there has not been enough engagement with them.

I stood on the lawn of a resident's house listening to aircraft taking off. It is horrendous to be under an aircraft when it takes off. The house was relatively well insulated, with good double-glazed PVC windows and so on. We were standing in the sitting room of the house and in the middle of a conversation when one very big jet took of. While it was passing over the house, I could not hear the person who was speaking to me. More importantly, one of the residents had a decibel measuring instrument whit hit 89dB while the aircraft was taking off. I understand the 45dB or 40dB requirement is an average over time.

Dublin Airport is about to become a hub. There is no doubt that British Airways which bought out Aer Lingus intends to use Dublin Airport as such because it has clearance for transatlantic flights. Travellers from the east could land at a hub in Dublin and fly straight back out to travel to the United States. A hub involves aircraft arriving and taking off very early in the morning in order to meet the turnover requirements. As Members are aware, there is a desire for aircraft to be on the ground for the minimum period. An aeroplane flies in and no sooner have the passengers disembarked when it turns around and flies back out again.

The noise levels at Dublin Airport are intolerable. I could not live in those conditions. There must be further engagement and I am deeply disappointed that that has not happened. As I stated, the Minister has no control over the ordering of business in the House which took its own decision today. Some Senators opposed the Order of Business and tried to amend it.