Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will come to that. It was discussed in October at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport. I also discussed it earlier in 2018 when the Government decided on its approach. The committee subjected the Bill to pre-legislative scrutiny. I am quite happy to remain in the Seanad for as long as Senators wish to discuss the Bill. That is why I am here. The debate is open-ended. The issues addressed by the Bill have been in the political arena for many years and there have been many controversies attached to them, some of which are dealt with by this group of amendments. It is untrue that the Bill is being or has been rushed. Through the past year and a half, we were criticised over the delay in bringing the Bill forward. Now that the delay is over, people are complaining about the rush. It is somewhat difficult to understand that.

The Bill is urgent. Without it, there will be no noise regulator for Dublin Airport. The Bill provides the comprehensive, open and transparent process that we need. There will not be a noise regulator without the Bill. EU Regulation 598/2014 has been in place since June 2016 and, without saying anything out of order, we are, therefore, kind of late with this legislation. The Bill has not been rushed but, rather, was delayed through no fault of mine, any other politician or anybody else. It was delayed for legal reasons, as Senators will be aware, because the original choice of noise regulator was opposed by the Attorney General. It has been delayed many times and we need to move it on. The runway is now under construction and everybody, including local residents, needs clarity.

I have a significant amount of respect for what Senator Norris has to say. It is very important that what he says is responsible and I am grateful that he withdrew the accusation of lying which he made against Fingal County Council.