merrion street

Following consultation with his Cabinet colleagues this afternoon, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross T.D. announced plans to appoint the Irish Aviation as the new Competent Authority in charge of noise management and operating restrictions at Dublin Airport.

This is in line with the new EU regulation 598/2014.

Minister Ross said: “We are facing an extremely delicate situation at Dublin Airport. There is an overwhelming case to build a new runway and it needs to be built quickly. If we are to avoid lengthy delays for passengers, construction of the new runway will need to start within a few months if it is to be commissioned as planned by 2020. Otherwise, significant economic loss and damage to the tourism sector in particular is inevitable. There is no intention that there will be an economic or financial review of the project. However, the very legitimate concerns of the residents about increasing traffic at the airport will be taken into account and public consultation arrangements will be made. Due to the capacity crisis at Dublin Airport the Cabinet agreed to commission a review into further demand, which would include the possibility of a third terminal at Dublin Airport.

I hope to finalise the necessary Statutory Instrument within a few weeks following careful co-operation between my Department and the Departments of Ministers Coveney and Naughton.

Given that finalisation of the SI will take some weeks yet, I will make a policy statement in coming days setting out further details of the proposed new arrangements.”