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happy to speak on the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026 this evening. The cap must be lifted but there are fundamental questions. There are other issues besides Dublin; it cannot all be about Dublin. That is what it has been. There is huge investment in Dublin … begrudge it one bit but we need a more balanced regional approach. While I support the lifting of the cap, for years policy and investment have been overwhelmingly focused on the capital while our regional airports at Cork, Shannon, Knock - Deputy Healy-Rae mentioned Kerry - and now Waterford

Minister. Unlimited expansion of Dublin Airport is effectively promised here. The Minister has previously referred to 60 million passengers a year, a number almost double the current cap. The Minister has done no evaluation of the climate or environmental implications this will lead to. He has done

licences to get us over the impasse that is there at the moment. They would be confined to ten passengers each, keeping in line with the cap of 180, to ensure the season operates for the good of all concerned, on a one-season-only basis and with

believe a cap of between 2.5 million and 3 million passengers per annum would be within state aid rules. It would also allow those airports to grow and compete more effectively for market share. It is in the gift of the Government to do that. The new programme

infrastructure that is in place, fire services training, new stands and its development plan. Hopefully, Ireland West Airport Knock will hit 1 million passengers by the end of this year. Shannon is growing. It grew by 9% last year. It not only has really good plans in place … well. If we were to stick to 32 million and a decision were made tomorrow that the cap currently in place would apply immediately such that we reduced the passenger numbers from 36.4 million to 32 million, we would be losing thousands of jobs in Dublin Airport. Deputy

national fares strategy was reached in July 2026, when a simplified fare structure already in place in Dublin was extended to Cork. Passengers there can now avail of the TFI 90-minute fare, allowing transfers between multiple bus services within a defined period on a single fare. This … reducing the cost of interchange. The NTA recently noted the introduction of the TFI 90 fare and fare capping has delivered a simpler and more affordable fare structure for passengers in that area, with a view to facilitating future expansion of the multimodal network. This represents a shift

will see a 9% fare reduction. The 90-minute fare level will be retained at €2. Fare caps will be revised, reducing the maximum daily, weekly and monthly expenditure for passengers in the Dublin city zone from €8 to €6 for adults. The Department is liaising closely with

that things like the airport cap were thrown into this debate. As someone who represents an airport constituency, I remember a time when the Labour Party was a supporter of airport workers. Even in advance of the debate on the Dublin Airport (passenger capacity) Bill

have reservations about the de facto setting aside of the climate action legislation in the context of this removal of the cap, and also later this week in the context of the gas reserve Bill. It is problematic to entirely throw out responsibility in that regard. I would … have to be taken. Reference has been made by many speakers in this debate to the growth of over 40% in terms of passenger accommodation in the airport, and of over 36.4 million people in the airport last year. That is entirely predictable in circumstances where our population

cap. There is presumably nothing preventing the DAA from applying for a higher figure. However, that is the Minister's understanding and that is fair enough. Our issue is that there are no limits anywhere in this Bill. There are no parameters for the number of passengers … bigger hub out of Dublin that will not necessarily serve Irish people or passengers but is going to serve these international airlines and passengers who are connecting here to move abroad? I have serious questions about that as well. As a lawyer, I like definitions. Again, as Deputy

services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation, PSO, contracts. In this context, the NTA published the national fares strategy … determination is being implemented in two phases. The second phase of this determination was introduced on 28 April 2025 with new multimodal fare caps and revised commuter rail fares. Phase 2b, pertaining to adjustments to commuter bus fares, commenced on 16 June 2025. I understand these

Green Party would argue that Ireland should adopt a no-fault compensation scheme for motor accidents. This would enable drivers and passengers to get quick and fair compensation without the legal battles and the endless blame game we are so familiar with. We should also empower the Injuries … default and the binding route for most personal injuries claims. This would cut legal costs and delays. We should have standardised and capped compensation awards by aligning ourselves with EU norms. That would ensure fairness and it would also take away the jackpot elements that sometimes people experience

regulation on state aid. In 2025, almost €40 million was paid out under the scheme, providing targeted support to the road haulage and passenger transport sectors. The diesel rebate scheme rate of repayment is linked to the average retail price of auto diesel, based on data from … period from quarter 1 of 2021 to quarter 4 of 2025. In response to the current fuel crisis, I recently increased the repayment cap from 7.5 cent per litre to 12 cent per litre. This enhanced repayment rate applies to claims in respect of fuel purchased from

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 … 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

assist in mitigating the impact of rising fuel costs. The rate of repayment is currently capped at 7.5 cent per litre. The cap is reached when the average price per litre of auto diesel is €1.16, excluding VAT. This financial resolution increases the rate to 12 cent … Tánaiste indicated, this temporary and targeted measure is in recognition of the detrimental impact of increasing fuel prices on hauliers and passenger transport operators and of the importance of these sectors to the Irish economy. The DRS provides targeted support to operators such as bus companies

issues. In particular, he should mandate the DAA to engage meaningfully with residents. I am also deeply concerned about the impact maintaining the cap could have on our tourism sector, which supports well over 200,000 jobs, often in parts of the country that have otherwise suffered from … Government. It is a positive thing that we can look to Dublin Airport as having even greater potential, but with 88% of passenger traffic passing through that airport, it would be wrong to think our regional airports do not have more to offer. We need to encourage more

page 6, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following: “ “international connectivity” means the range and frequency of scheduled passenger and cargo air services operating to and from Dublin Airport, having regard to— (a) the number of direct routes available from Dublin Airport to destinations outside … phrase permeates the Bill and it is used by the Government as a justification for the lifting of this cap. The Government says the Bill is to increase our international connectivity. With 32 million or more flights already leaving the country to international destinations, the question is what

distribution network. Households and other businesses benefit indirectly by virtue of reduced distribution costs. To qualify for the scheme, road haulage and passenger transport operators must have an appropriate road transport licence and be tax compliant. The auto diesel must be used in qualifying vehicles in the course … litre at which the maximum rebate was given. The amendment we are speaking to today provides for an increase in the repayment cap from 7.5 cent per litre to 12 cent per litre. This enhanced or extended repayment rate applies to claims covering auto diesel purchased between

noise situation at Dublin Airport and the potential noise impact of planning applications that seek permission for infrastructure and increases to the permitted passenger capacity at the airport. The airport is a critical piece of national infrastructure, we know that. It underpins tens of thousands of jobs … planning permissions. They are subject of further retention applications now. We want the airport to develop and grow. I will be removing the cap on Dublin Airport. That is important. It must be done in a sustainable way. Communities need to be listened to. On the new report

rail services under programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland. The NTA has strategy responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect to public transport services provided under the PSO contracts. In this context, in April 2023 the NTA published a new national fare strategy … rail ticketing system. The second phase of the previously announced fare determinations was implemented on Monday, 28 April, introducing new multimodal fare caps in Dublin and revised commuter rail services, with revised commuter fares to come into effect in mid-May. The implementation saw the roll

focus on our rail service. Peak-time trains serving Adamstown, Kishoge and Clondalkin are routinely overcrowded. I have received reports of multiple passengers fainting after squeezing onto packed trains, including one pregnant woman. It is not acceptable, yet we are told we must wait until next year … instructed South Dublin County Council and other councils to rezone even more land, while councillors of all parties continue to doff the cap and approve additional zoning along with a rail line that already lacks capacity at a time when the city centre remains underdeveloped. Large software

carbon tax, but it has no problem in letting buses and trucks travel from the port in Dublin. Of the passengers coming into this country, 83% travel down the country. I would welcome them to Limerick but they could have landed in Shannon Airport and come into Limerick … right thing, it should connect all of Ireland and let all the airports develop together. Then it should look at increasing the cap if the quota is too low. It should look at the issue that way. Increasing the cap in one airport while not helping the other

current number is not even half that. Cork Airport could take another 2 million passengers and Knock Airport could take another 500,000 passengers. There is massive spare capacity in these airports, and using it would cause no difficulty at all. Putting all your eggs in one basket … there is less water in the kettle before boiling it and turn off the lights, while, at the same time, pushing up this cap and putting so many data centres in the country makes a mockery of the Government's ask that people cut back their own emissions

imposed at all in Dublin Airport. Planes do not make money when parked so the airlines are dying to get rid of the cap. I spoke to residents earlier today. Turning to the second amendment in this grouping, there are international duties and laws under environmental laws … those people are going to find that the noise levels will be even more intolerable when the projected massive increase in passengers goes ahead. The night-time flights will be at least doubled. That is the estimate of many residents. Rather than 60, there will

while the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan has delivered more than 180 new or enhanced services since its launch in 2022, substantially increasing passenger journeys and access to rural bus services. Such investment is improving connectivity between towns and villages, supporting access to employment, education and healthcare - issues … over that time. The LEADER programme forms part of a wider package of EU co-funded supports contained in the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. Negotiations in relation to the development of a new multi-annual financial framework, MFF, which will include continued rural development investment, are well under