As Deputy Daly has outlined, we support the removal of the cap but there needs to be effective oversight and transparency in terms of the definitions and powers it gives the Minister when coming to the decision to give a ministerial order. This will ensure local communities are engaged with and listened to. This has to strike the right balance between ensuring our international connectivity while protecting local communities and local residents who will have to deal with the consequences of this. At the very least, there should be protections in place for them. We have several amendments submitted in that regard because, of course, there have been ongoing issues with flight paths, noise and much more. The first amendment here speaks to our international connectivity. Air travel is, of course, essential for us as an island nation, whether that is work, study or opportunities to visit friends and family. It is absolutely critical for us to be part of the wider world. That is why this is an important Bill. However, in many ways, it is frustrating that Government is on the one hand lifting the cap at Dublin Airport while not putting the same efforts into promoting and supporting the use of our regional airports, such as Shannon, Knock and other airports across the country. It is important to say airports like Shannon and Knock, which are the two most local to me, provide an absolutely fantastic service to people. They want to grow, expand and provide more flights. They are absolutely key to our regional economy in the west of Ireland, in terms of driving tourism into those parts of the country. However, the reality is that well over 80% of the State's air passenger traffic goes through Dublin Airport. That is an absolutely huge imbalance. It represents a policy failure to strike the right balance and to promote and support the use of those regional airports, which would also reduce the level of traffic going through Dublin Airport and support greater growth opportunities in the west of Ireland, particularly given that balanced regional development is something we talk about so much and to which Government often pay lip service. However, this is a prime example of where balanced regional development is not happening, where we are not supporting infrastructural development in the west of Ireland and where Dublin is outpacing the rest of the country significantly. The investment has to be there from Government to deliver on all this. We need a specific task force put in place to focus on this issue to grow our regional airports and support their use. We have to start taking this issue seriously. It has been over ten years since the national aviation policy was published, and there is still no sign as to when that long-promised policy will be delivered. Without an overarching policy that reflects the developments in aviation and that is going to support balanced regional development in aviation, how can we have any confidence in Government's efforts to get this right? I make the point regarding public transport and connectivity to our airports. The western rail corridor represents a huge opportunity for connectivity to Knock Airport. However, we have been lacking in even basic things like getting the bus service from Galway to Shannon Airport. These are very basic things we need to get right to improve and to support our regional airports. There are several gaps and shortfalls in this legislation that need to be addressed, and the amendments are there, particularly in terms of the impact on infrastructure and the environment, which has not been evaluated. How will the Government mitigate the impact of flight paths? What will happen with night-time flights? There should be more extensive debate than just the two hours allocated. Going forward, I urge Government to finally start focusing on balanced regional development in aviation, and to do everything in its power to support regional airports right across the country.

Sentiment score: 0.25