EU Regulation No 598/2014 establishes rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at Union airports in accordance with the Balanced Approach developed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Officials in my Department are currently working closely with the Office of the Attorney General determining the appropriate legislative arrangements to give full effect and implementation to the provisions of Regulation 598/2014 and to bring those legislative arrangements to completion urgently. These legislative arrangements will include putting in place an appropriate appeals mechanism with regard to the decisions of the competent authority, with responsibility for aircraft noise at Dublin airport, as required under Article 4 of the Regulation. Consequently, I am not in a position, at this point in time, to provide precise details on the appeals mechanism or indeed other aspects of the legislative arrangements required to give full effect to Regulation 598/2014 until such time as the Attorney General’s Office completes its work and subsequent advice to my Department on the matter.
