Darragh O'Brien
Dublin Fingal East · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months.”
“I have already mentioned the more than 3 million passengers who flew through Cork Airport and the growth of Shannon Airport, which has just had its best half a year and which now has over 40 routes. However, a small number of people are impacted and they need to be listened to.”
“Others did not want it at all. I think Shane Ross was Minister for transport at the time. That has been done. That is in place. This decision will be made. I do not have a timeframe. Hopefully it will be soon after the submissions from the public on the draft noise decision is made. That would feed into both.”
“An Investec report published in, I believe, 2022 said that to maintain the cap at 32 million between now and 2030 would jeopardise up to about 19,000 jobs. That is the reality of it. I support the workers in the airport. I am from the community myself. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way.”
“I have also made it clear that even though, and this is a fact, international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, we are taking actions aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organization's basket of measures to ensur…”
“I have already highlighted the planning decision on the DAA’s infrastructure application. We discussed that at some length over the course of the last nearly two hours. That application seeks to raise the passenger cap to 40 million and provide for much-needed additional infrastructure at Dublin Airport.”
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“It would have to be done cleanly. We will do that. The timing will ensure the assessment is based on the most accurate and current operational data, and I have said that in the Dáil. I am happy to say it again in the Seanad.”
“I thank Senator Clifford-Lee. What I was mentioning to Senator Alice-Mary Higgins was the fact that we are not talking about the piece of infrastructure but effectively the decision with regard to the passenger cap, which relates to Dublin Airport. Therefore, it will tie up Dublin Airport in a constant loop of environmental impact assessments if her amendment were to pass. In relation to the independent assessment, I am committing to an independent assessment of the flight paths at Dublin Airport. I will undertake that at the appropriate time. The most suitable point for this work will most likely be when the final decision is made regarding the north runway relevant action. We will get this legislation through and then the final decision will be made. We could not have an outstanding application there that is pending a decision.”
“I cannot have an independent assessment while there are pending decisions with regard to the operation of the airport. We will do it very shortly after that. Respecting the fact that the Senator has tabled her amendment, it would not work. It would tie the airport up in knots. This provision that she would put in exists nowhere else. It is one of the most important strategic assets that the State has, our major international airport, and the Senator would tie it up in knots by passing this amendment.”
“If you want to lose thousands of jobs in the airport, restrict people's ability to travel and restrict connectivity, then you will go with the Senator's amendment. That is what I am not going to do and that is why I am not going to accept it. All of that said, and I have been very clear earlier on, there are genuine issues that people have. A small number of residents need to be dealt with. I am firm in my belief that this needs to happen and that there is certainty around flight paths as well. We will carry out an independent assessment. I will instruct that there be an independent assessment of flight paths and operation of flight paths once this legislation passes and the decision is made. That has to be done at the appropriate time.”
“Many people in the north Dublin area want the cap lifted as well. That is just the reality of it. With regard to Senator Higgins's amendment, there would be no other piece of infrastructure in the country, that I am aware of, that would be subject to ongoing environmental assessments, which is what the Senator is proposing. There is no infrastructure that would require a constant loop of preparing material for assessments and having assessments carried out constantly. They would be done every two years. Does the Senator know how long these assessments take? It would be a constant hamster wheel of environmental assessments. It is madness. It would completely tie us. There would be no opportunity to grow anything and it would set a dangerous precedent. That is okay if the Senator does not want anything to grow.”
“It is important that clarity is given for future development and growth within the airport and that the airport is not going to drop 4 million passengers or else the airport is just going to stay at 32 million. That is not a sustainable way forward. New routes will not come to the airport and we will not be able to manage routes to other parts of the world out of Dublin. It will inhibit business and growth. It will restrict jobs. It would mean we would lose jobs, frankly. If we stayed at 32 million or reverted to 32 million, we would lose thousands of jobs in Dublin Airport. I do not want that to happen. They are normal, good people, who are working there whose families are deriving good incomes from various jobs within the airport. It is important that this is understood too.”
“Others did not want it at all. I think Shane Ross was Minister for transport at the time. That has been done. That is in place. This decision will be made. I do not have a timeframe. Hopefully it will be soon after the submissions from the public on the draft noise decision is made. That would feed into both. We have already started the review on that legislation to see where future planning for airports and Dublin Airport should sit. Should it be strategic infrastructure and go to An Coimisiún Pleanála? Should it stay within Fingal County Council? That is for another day. We have to deal with the reality of what we have right now, which is that there is an effective stay on the cap at the moment because of the current case that is being taken. The airport is able to operate above 32 million because there is a stay on the cap right now.”
“That then goes back in and it feeds into Fingal's infrastructure decision on the infrastructure application the DAA has made. I do not know whether it will or not but if it grants that application and gives permission, that would supersede any order that I would make. That is that element of it done. It would then be about future growth within the airport. We have actually already started the review of that 2018 Act, which I debated from Opposition in the other House and actually supported it, but got changes to it. A lot of people at the time were very unhappy that ANCA was the noise regulator because they saw it sat within Fingal County Council. To be fair, as a separate entity, ANCA has proven its independence and expertise. It has done a really good job in the main in that regard. Others who wanted to put it in the IAA.”
“The reason I am saying that is the planning application is there right now. To reiterate, if this legislation passes - and I hope it will; I am quite sure it will at this stage - we will have to enact it. It will go through a process then. The environmental reports and assessments will be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. An Coimisiún Pleanála will then submit them to me and then we will make an order on foot of that. While that is happening, Fingal County Council is making its decision on the infrastructure application. ANCA has commenced its consultation on noise and it will be open until 3 September. That is important because it deals with a lot of the noise issues that we are talking about. We want to know what people think about that draft decision.”
“I have already highlighted the planning decision on the DAA’s infrastructure application. We discussed that at some length over the course of the last nearly two hours. That application seeks to raise the passenger cap to 40 million and provide for much-needed additional infrastructure at Dublin Airport. Anyone travelling out of the airport right now will see the work happening in terminal 1, which badly needed refurbishment work. I remember when terminal 2 was opened in 2008-09. Many commentators, and some politicians in this very Chamber, said it would be a white elephant, a waste of money, would never be used, was not needed and should not be done, but now it is full. We had many arguments against terminal 2 at the time, including cost and all that. Let us imagine what the airport would be like right now if we did not have it.”
“I am not accepting amendment No. 18. The amendment is looking to have an environmental impact assessment every two years. Let us say, for example, there is a situation where the DAA wants to develop something. It would have to make a planning application. That would be the case for any infrastructure. This Bill does not deal with infrastructure, but with the cap itself. If the DAA wanted to build a new terminal, a new pier, a new stand or whatever, it would have to go and make a planning application. That is important. It would have to be environmentally assessed by the planning authority. Under this legislation, I have mandated that the making of an order also be environmentally assessed before any order is made in relation to the airport cap. That is clear.”
“In future, the Minister could seek a further order to direct the DAA to make another submission. It is not just a big-bang approach on this aspect. It is very much focused on protecting the existing planning application there, because that is current. I believe that what the Senators are seeking is well covered in the Bill.”
“I thank the Senator. What she is looking for is already in the Bill. I will just explain why. Section 2 includes a really clear definition of the "passenger capacity condition", which is that it "means a condition relating to the number of passengers that may use Dublin Airport for the purpose of travelling by air to or from another airport in any period". As such, the power I have under section 25, which we referred to earlier, is limited to amending the passenger cap condition, which is what is being proposed by the Senator. Both these provisions address recommendations from the Oireachtas joint committee to ensure the scope of the power is limited. The sunset clause is there too. If planning permission is granted under the current application, the order then falls.”
“I respect her view and opinion, as well as the manner in which she put them forward. How we are proceeding here is in a careful and considered way, so I am not accepting the three amendments.”
“Many other countries of comparable size do not even come close to where we are, and not just on the airline side, but also on aircraft leasing. One in every two planes that fly in the sky are leased through Irish companies here. We are a world leader in aircraft and engines, aircraft finance, MRO and research. That is why so many Irish men and women have been head of airlines right across the world and are world leaders in that area. This is something we should be proud, and I think many of us are. I make no bones about the fact that an element of this legislation is about protecting the economic health of this State, the thousands of jobs this sector supports and that those jobs in Dublin Airport, an airport I live right beside, are protected and can grow. I thank the Senator for tabling the three amendments.”
“If we look at the EPA's own projections to 2030, they have improved year-on-year. We saw a significant improvement in this year's projections to 2030 compared with last year. A major part of that was due to the accelerated electrification of our transport fleet. We are seeing that in spades now with regard to EVs on the road. I do not want to get into a whole climate debate on it, but climate and climate action are central to everything we do. Electrification, acceleration of renewables and decarbonisation are absolutely critical. However, there is the fundamental reality that we are an island nation. If we are going to travel for business or to meet family in a sustainable and responsible way for holidays, we need to get off the island, and aviation is very important. By the way, Ireland is a world leader in aviation.”
“Within that Act which the Senator opposed at the time was the restructuring of what was An Bord Pleanála, and is now An Coimisiún Pleanála, to give it 50% extra staff and to split the corporate spine from the decision-making spine, which has made it a much more effective and efficient organisation in that regard. It was mentioned earlier by Senator Joe Conway, and I did not mean to not respond to it, and a couple of other Senators about IFAC's calculation of what the cost of compliance would be. However, there is no criteria and no agreed formula relating to cost of compliance or, as others would say, fines. That does not exist. IFAC has come up with a figure and a range which has no basis; there is no agreement on that. We are engaging with the Commission now and we will do well to 2030.”
“No, but we are going to get close to them and we will try to bridge that gap, particularly through energy and the acceleration of renewable energy sources. In the first few months of this year, 50% or thereabouts of our electricity was generated from renewable sources. How are we going to accelerate that? By doing things like I and Senator Noonan did in the previous Government, that is, the Planning and Development Act that is now in place and which Senator Higgins opposed vociferously in this very House, speaking for hours on end on things that enable us to accelerate renewables, improve our grid and secure clean sources of energy that are our own, as well as to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. That is what we did, and it is now coming to fruition and into effect.”
“The climate Act does not apply anyway, so there is nothing to disapply. The reality is the environmental impact assessments will be undertaken by An Coimisiún Pleanála and not by me, and that is the appropriate place for that to be. Overall, there is no denying the situation the world is in right now. We are way above the 1.5°C and are probably projecting a 2.3°C increase in temperatures, which is extremely worrying. However, in Ireland in the past three years we have been able to decouple emissions growth from economic growth. That is a very significant thing. We are back to pre-1990 levels of emissions in this country, and with 1.5 million more people here. Emissions are continuing to drop as the economy and population continue to grow. Are we going to get to our 2030 climate targets?”
“I have also made it clear that even though, and this is a fact, international aviation emissions are outside the scope of the climate action plan, we are taking actions aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organization's basket of measures to ensure aviation meets the challenges of decarbonisation. That includes several things, such as airlines continuing to adopt new or more efficient aircraft, more efficient use of fuel, quieter aircraft, mandated increased use of SAF at EU level under the EU refuel aviation regulation and the EU emissions trading scheme, to name but a few, as well as the CORSIA scheme at international level. I am not disapplying the Act at all in relation to the environmental impact assessment; that is actually being done.”
“I will say again that under the legislation, I am clearly mandated - and have mandated - for a full environmental impact assessment to be carried out in line with the EIA directive - and it is absolutely in line with that - which would identify, describe and assess the direct and indirect effects of making an order on several factors, including climate, and would be independently undertaken not by me, but by An Coimisiún Pleanála, prior to the making of the order.”
“Senator Higgins also suggested I should be of the opinion that the passenger cap planning condition is causing harm to the State's obligation under national, EU or international law relating to climate change or the State's obligation under the Paris Agreement. She further suggested the Climate Change Advisory Council should issue a recommendation to amend the passenger cap, where it is of the opinion that it is likely to cause harm to the State's ability to meet its national climate objective.”
“I am not accepting amendments Nos. 10, 11 or 12. I thank the Senator for tabling them. I am empowered to make an order where I am of the opinion that the passenger cap planning condition is causing serious harm to the economy. I make no bones about that; I do not think it is a problem. I would have thought it a responsibility I would have, to be honest. Similarly, where I see there is a problem with international connectivity, that is stating the obvious and should be the case, as Minister for Transport, or the State's international reputation in air transport. That is very clearly set out and I would stand over all three of them every day of the week.”
“It was never appropriate for that to be there. However, I have the general power, should this Bill pass into an Act, to direct the airport on any matter that relates to this Bill. The work now ongoing through ANCA with its draft decision needs to conclude. There is an important opportunity for that to be done. I cannot accept the amendment.”
“The appropriate next time to do that is once the ANCA decision is finalised and the public consultation is concluded, which will be on 3 September. Obviously, there will be a period required after that when the submissions to ANCA will be looked at. That is where the consultation is. That will happen over the coming months. There is a small number of residents negatively affected by the airport, be that from a voluntary purchase perspective or in the context of noise insulation. It looks to me that the ANCA draft decision will expand the noise insulation scheme to a wider area. We then need certainty on flight paths. There is a lot to do in this space. This Bill is not the place for the voluntary purchase scheme to sit because it is operated by Dublin Airport Authority. I know there were some who wondered if it would sit within this Bill.”
“That review will use the 2025 operation and noise data, which will ensure the assessment takes place with-up-to date data that accurately reflects the noise environment experienced by local communities. As Senator Clifford-Lee mentioned, it is also important to note that ANCA has published its draft decision on proposed noise mitigation measures associated with DAA's infrastructure application. That includes lifting the cap to 40 million passengers per annum. As the Senator said, that consultation is open until 3 September. It is really important that those residents interested in this or affected by it in whatever way engage with that process. I have said that I have engaged directly with the DAA on this already. I have written to it formally and will continue to do that.”
“I thank the Senators who tabled the amendment and the Senators who have contributed to it. I do not accept the amendment, which suggests an independent assessment of DAA's voluntary purchase scheme and setting out specific standards. I will explain why. DAA has the statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport, including the implementation of the noise mitigation programme. The terms of this programme are set out in the planning conditions. Under those terms, eligibility for the noise insulation scheme, the voluntary dwelling purchase scheme and the school insulation scheme is subject to review every two years. The next review is due to commence in the coming months. There is a real opportunity to do it there.”
“We are also significantly upgrading our rail lines right across the country. The landscape has changed since 2007 and 2008. There are still issues with a small number of residents that need to be dealt with. These issues need to be dealt with by agreement. That is the best way to do it. I am not speaking to an amendment. I am speaking to section 18 because Senator Higgins wanted to speak on that section. I have nothing further to say. I have explained that the environmental considerations are very clearly covered by section 24 of the Bill. I cannot issue an order without the relevant assessments being done.”
“I am going to carry out an independent assessment of that once the cases are dispensed with and once the aircraft noise competent authority, which comes under Fingal County Council, makes its final decision. I have also protected the existing application that is with Fingal County Council right now. This does not set that aside at all. We are doing this in a very structured and careful way. As Government colleagues and some Opposition colleagues have said before, no one can argue for a false cap to be put on growth. A condition relating to vehicular access to the airport was introduced in 2007 and 2008. Next year, we are going to start construction on the long-awaited MetroLink. This is the first Government to fund MetroLink. Full planning permission has been granted. Preparatory work has started and the first tender is out.”
“I have already mentioned the more than 3 million passengers who flew through Cork Airport and the growth of Shannon Airport, which has just had its best half a year and which now has over 40 routes. However, a small number of people are impacted and they need to be listened to. Not only do they need to be listened to, their views need to be acted upon. Senator Clifford-Lee and others have discussed the voluntary purchase scheme with me. We will get to that later on. It needs to be improved. Under this Bill, the Minister will have the power to make directions in respect of any matter under the Bill. I expect that to happen. We have a new leadership team going into the airport. It is about a good neighbour policy, supporting jobs and connectivity, allowing the airport to grow in a sustainable way, and adherence to the granted flight paths.”
“This may be the first time it has been proposed that we would cut 5,000 jobs from Dublin Airport and redeploy them across the regional airports. That is not what we are trying to do. We are trying to grow our airports and our connectivity in a balanced way. I fully respect the Senator's view; I just do not agree with it. The reality is that our regional airports are growing. Between now and 2030, we are investing €45 million to that end. This Bill is specifically about Dublin Airport. Matters have been raised, particular with regard to engaging with the affected communities. There are many thousands of people who live beside Dublin Airport who want to see the cap removed. They derive their income from the airport and want to see it continue to grow.”
“The Senator will see it there. It does not need to be in the Bill twice. That is why it is disapplied. In response to Senator Joe Conway, I am not sure I have much more to say. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but they are not entitled to their own facts. The reality is that the regional airports are growing. The numbers I have given the Senator are correct. They are good. I have not made them up. You can grow jobs across the-----”
“I will start with Senator Alice-Mary Higgins. I suggest she may be reading the Bill incorrectly. I refer her to section 24, which specifically outlines: The Minister shall not make an order under section 25(1) unless— (a) the Commission has carried out an environmental impact assessment of the proposal and issued a reasoned conclusion in accordance with section 15 , and (b) the Commission has carried out an appropriate assessment of the proposal and— (i) the Commission has made a determination in accordance with section 21(6) The only reason it is disapplied in section 18 is that is covered in another part of the Bill, section 24. It is outlined there. I will not read the full section. I will not be able to issue an order unless the assessments are carried out. That is very clearly set out in section 24 of the Bill.”
“I am acutely aware of that myself and I expect the power that is given to me within the Bill to be used. I am not accepting the amendments as tabled.”
“This is about having a balanced approach but the power within the Act, once this is passed, is very clearly set down. This is about trying to move this forward in a sustainable way to allow the airport to grow in a sustainable way and allow it to underpin and support the jobs that are there and make sure we have the international connectivity we need and require as an island nation. This legislation has been thought through very carefully. We have not in any way, shape or form rushed it either. There were ten weeks of pre-legislative scrutiny. I responded to the pre-legislative scrutiny report. That is important. This Bill passing would strengthen our hand with regard to how the airport operates for the small number of residents who are affected.”
“I say that as someone who has lived beside the airport my whole life. I would also say it is important that in fairness, many of the residents who have issues are not against the airport. There are many people in north Dublin, where I live, who actually want the airport cap removed and who derive incomes from the airport and want it to grow. There are others who are directly impacted and who have very valid issues that have not been dealt with heretofore in as efficient a way as possible. Many people feel particularly affected by the opening of the new runway, as I mentioned, in St. Margaret's The Ward area, Portmarnock, parts of Malahide, in particular, and parts of Kinsealy. However, there are many others who are under flight paths who want to see the airport continue to grow also.”
“I thank the Senator for tabling the amendment. I would say to Senator Clifford-Lee that this is in section 6 of the Bill very clearly. The Bill was written in close collaboration and with the advice of the Attorney General as well. The general power is actually very important. Section 6(1) states: "The Minister may give a direction in writing to daa for any purpose relating to this Act, including, but not limited to ..." and then it actually lists them. Anyone can read that it is abundantly clear. I have already spoken in relation to noise. Noise is an issue for some residents. I have also spoken on flight paths and in relation to the voluntary purchase scheme. I have already engaged with the DAA on that. We will have a new management team in the DAA shortly and I will be engaging again at that stage too.”
“The chairperson and board members are appointed by the Minister. This legislation, if anything, gives a very clear report and delineation with regard to any orders I would issue to it, be that about numbers, environmental considerations or whatever that may be and it must comply. I am not, therefore, in a position to accept this amendment.”
“As the Senator has explained, the amendment proposes to lay a report before the Houses in relation to DAA's compliance with any directions I give it under the Bill. This provision is unnecessary. DAA is required by law once this Bill passes to comply with any direction I issue under the Bill. Typically, this will relate to the provision of reports to allow the environmental assessments to be undertaken, which I spoke of earlier. If that is not provided then the assessments cannot be undertaken and no order can be made. As such, it is in the DAA's interest to comply with any direction I issue and it will comply with that. I will also say that DAA is obviously bound to publish a report every year. That annual report is brought to Cabinet. The Minister of the day is the shareholder of the Dublin Airport Authority.”
“I support jobs within the airport. Connectivity for our country is critical. This Bill is specifically about Dublin Airport. As Senators Scahill and Clifford-Lee have rightly said, this is not instead of regional airport growth. The facts speak for themselves with regard to the regional airport growth numbers. I was only in Kerry yesterday. There are further really impressive expansion plans for Kerry Airport. Ireland West, Cork and Shannon airports are all growing. Work is also under way in Waterford Airport, which is good to see. Donegal Airport is operating a very important service for people in the region. With that said, a Chathaoirligh, I am not in a position to accept any of the amendments but specifically amendment No. 2.”
“An Investec report published in, I believe, 2022 said that to maintain the cap at 32 million between now and 2030 would jeopardise up to about 19,000 jobs. That is the reality of it. I support the workers in the airport. I am from the community myself. The airport has to grow in a sustainable way. It has to operate as a good neighbour but I recognise that it has not always done so. I have said in the Dáil and am quite happy to put on the record of the House here that, post the passing of this Bill and when a number of legal cases ongoing at the moment are dispensed with, I will be initiating an independent assessment of flight paths. A number of residents have been affected where flight paths for which planning was approved have not been adhered to, with the authority then seeking approval for retention. That is not the way to operate.”
“The people directly affected need to be listened to and solutions need to be found. There is an economic and strategic imperative for us to continue allowing airports to grow in a sustainable way. I am not being overly critical because the Members have put forward their own points of view and I respect them. The Labour Party position as put forward in the Dáil is effectively to bring the numbers back down to 32 million. The internationally recognised rule of thumb on jobs to passenger numbers is that every 1 million passengers leads to about 1,000 direct jobs. If we were to go back to 32 million, I think Senators in opposition and, indeed, in government would be calling me in and asking why we had lost 5,000 direct jobs in Dublin Airport. That is what would happen.”
“Regarding the amendment, I have already mentioned where the regional airports are and they are all growing, which is very good to see. Cork and Ireland West airports grew by 13% last year and they can grow more. There are now over 40 routes flying out of Shannon for the first time since the early 1990s. Those regional airports need to be hungry for business because, as Senator Clifford-Lee right said, I cannot, even if I wished to, direct an airline to fly out of a particular airport. The commercial decisions that airlines make are way beyond any powers that any Minister has. I am absolutely in earnest when I say that the operation of Dublin Airport and the manner in which the DAA deals with local residents have to improve, and I will make sure that they do.”
“I have written to the airport and have engaged with it. The airport has a new chairperson and soon will have a new chief executive also. I have said very clearly that the voluntary purchase scheme needs to be improved for those who cannot sustain their households and lives in close proximity to the airport. The noise insulation scheme needs to expand. That will happen post the 14 weeks of the public consultation on the noise decision. We have also protected the planning application that is with Fingal County Council right now. It is known as the infrastructure application and actually seeks to increase the passenger numbers to 40 million. Importantly, it also seeks to improve the facilities on the campus at Dublin Airport. We are not reaching into that at all. That is being fully protected, as is clearly stated in the Bill.”
“Tens of thousands of people have jobs at the airport and derive good incomes to support their families through the airport. There are about 130,000 direct and indirect jobs through Dublin Airport, with about 3% of GDP generated from that campus alone. It is a critical piece of national infrastructure. I have been very clear on this in the Dáil as well. There have been issues with how the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, has operated with regard to its neighbours, including near neighbours to the west of the campus in the St. Margaret's and the Ward area as well as on the eastern side in Portmarnock and Malahide. Over the years, the DAA has not dealt with them well. The aircraft noise competent authority, ANCA's decision on noise has been out for 14 weeks. That is an important decision out for public consultation.”
“With the new public service obligation, PSO, flight there, we have made sure to maintain the schedule that was in place and so important to residents in Donegal. To talk from an all-island perspective, we have other airports on the island. A Dublin-Derry route will start in October of this year through the Government's shared island initiative, reconnecting a route that has not been in operation since 2011. I assure Senators that it is not a case of Dublin growing instead of the others. The reality is that we have a growing population. Everybody recognises that we are an island nation; that is stating the obvious fact. Connectivity is critical, and the aviation sector is also critical for jobs. I grew up beside the airport and have lived beside it my whole life.”
“I would be quite happy at another time to go through that in more detail. We just brought forward the regional airports programme for 2026 to 2030, providing for €45 million worth of investment in our regional airports. I have changed the criteria within that to increase the passenger numbers to 3 million. This will allow Shannon, for argument's sake, to participate in the regional airports programme, all of whose participants are receiving funding. This year, Shannon got €1.9 million, Ireland West Airport got €2.8 million and Kerry Airport got €2.8 million. We should not forget Donegal, which is a very important airport for connectivity for the north west. It carries a smaller number of passengers but still receives about €400,000.”
“A €200 million investment is under way in Cork Airport right now. I have visited Cork Airport, which is a wonderful airport. Shannon Airport grew by 9% last year. The half-year figures that I have for Shannon up to the end of June show a 12% increase. Shannon Airport had 1.17 million passengers in the first half of this year. It is another very fine airport and very important to us. It actually had its busiest day in 17 years on 28 June when 11,400 passengers passed through it. I was in Kerry Airport yesterday and on Sunday. Kerry Airport is projecting over 500,000 passengers this year. Ireland West Airport is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. That airport will be touching 1 million passengers. We are investing in and supporting these airports through the regional airports programme.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí agus cuirim fíorfháilte roimh na daoine sa Ghailearaí freisin. I thank Senators for the amendments tabled. I will explain why I will not be accepting any of them. Senator Harmon gave a contribution on the overall Bill and the impact on residents. I will deal with that during this session as I did in the Dáil. This Bill does not disapply any environmental considerations whatsoever. I know there is another amendment proposing that it goes through An Coimisiún Pleanála. I will explain that later as amendments are taken. I will first deal with regional airports. Senators Clifford-Lee, Scahill and others have put forward what is the correct position in that regard. All of our regional airports are growing. Cork Airport carried 3.24 million passengers.”
“I move: That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves the following Orders in draft: (i) Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and on Capital) (the Principality of Liechtenstein) Order 2026, and (ii) Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Sweden) Order 2026, copies of which have been laid in draft form before Dáil Éireann on 25th June, 2026, be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach, in accordance with Standing Order 103(1)(a), which, not later than 15th July, 2026, shall send a message to the Dáil in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 110, and Standing Order 109(2) shall accordingly apply.”