Controversial legislation to deal with noise levels at Dublin airport passes in Dáil

Controversial legislation to deal with noise levels at Dublin airport and minimise noise pollution has been passed in the Dáil by 66 votes to 28.

The Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill has been introduced in advance of the completion of the second runway at the airport.

Fingal County Council has been appointed as the regulator or "competent authority" to enforce regulations but Opposition TDs have expressed concern about a conflict of interest given the authority's close relationship with the airport.

Independents4Change TD Clare Daly said Ireland was the only EU member to appoint a local authority as regulator and it did not "bode well".

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Labour TD Brendan Ryan said he had concerns about the independence of the competent authority and warned that if it “turns out to be not as independent as designed we will face serious issues”.

The Government lost a number of votes on the Bill and the House accepted Opposition amendments to impose financial penalties where aircraft breach stipulated noise levels in line with regulations in operation at Manchester airport in England.

Ms Daly said it was a “carrot and stick approach” to encourage pilots to fly aircraft in the quietest way possible and to encourage airlines to introduce the quietest aeroplanes.

She said the fine would be €750 for the first decibel above the maximum permitted level and €150 for each decibel beyond that.

Minister for Transport Shane Ross who opposed the amendment said such financial penalties "are unlikely to be effective. The ability to quickly bring court proceedings to bear simply works better."

He said that “big businesses, particularly state monopolies, are not actually paying out with their own money. If state monopolies were fined it would, in effect, fall to the tax payer to pay those fines.”

Ms Daly said it was ironic to suggest that access to the High Court was being offered as some sort of quick fix.

The Dáil accepted her amendment by 49 votes to 43.

Independent TD Tommy Broughan said they wanted to give residents in the vicinity of the airport some kind of confidence on noise controls and limiting night flights when the new north runway starts operations, especially when Dublin Airport Authority plans to increase passenger numbers up to 750,000 or even one million a week.

He said Opposition TDs supported the airport’s development because it provided some 100,000 jobs but they needed systems of management and clarity and the Minister had failed to provide this with the legislation.

On Tuesday night the Government lost another Dáil vote on permitted noise levels. Ms Daly succeeded with her amendment keep average noise below stipulated levels.

The amendment states that the competent authority shall direct the airpot to ensure that average noise exposure is kept below 45 decibels during the day and below 40 decibels at night.

The Bill now goes to the Seanad where debate is expected to start next week.