Vol. 487 No. 6
134 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the fact that Dublin airport does not have a noise penalty structure in place which would act as an incentive for airlines to fly more quietly into Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4884/98]
Noise penalties are generally only applied at airports which are noise constrained due to the existence of extensive residential development in their immediate environs. At Dublin Airport, long-term planning and the co-operation of the local planning authority and other State agencies has meant that new residential developments have generally only been confined to those areas where aircraft noise is less significant.
The regulations which apply in Ireland to aircraft noise levels are contained in the European Communities (Restriction of Civil subsonic Jet Aeroplane Operations) Regulations, 1993 (S. I. No. 130 of 1993). These regulations give effect to the provisions of EU Council Directive No. 92/14/EEC affecting the operation of certain categories of subsonic jet aeroplanes within the territories of the member states.
Council Directive No. 92/14/EEC applies to all member states of the European Union.
The combined effect of the Council directive and the regulations means that aircraft shall not be operated at an airport within the State as from 1 April 1995, unless there is in force in respect of that aircraft a noise certificate, certifying that the noise made by that aircraft is not greater than the noise levels specified in Part II, Chapter 3, volume 1 of Annex 16 (2nd Edition, 1988) to the Chicago Convention. I should add that there are provisions in the regulations which enable me to grant exemptions or to recognise other member states' exemptions for certain stated purposes.
Discussions are proceeding in the EU Transport Ministers Council on amendment of the 1992 Council directive. The current Irish regulations will be updated to give effect to any agreed amendments to EU law.
