I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.
The European Commission put forward a proposal in March 1998 for a Council regulation on the registration and operation within the Community of certain types of civil subsonic jet aeroplanes which have been modified and recertificated as meeting the standards of Chapter 3 of Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The purpose of the proposed regulation is to prevent a further deterioration of the noise situation around EU airports. The Governments of a number of EU countries have been coming under increasing pressure to introduce unilateral noise abatement measures at the major hub airports.
The Commission considers that the environmental performance of hushkitted and similarly modified aeroplanes, in terms of fuel burn and atmospheric pollution, is in general worse, and the noise level of these aircraft significantly worse, than for modern current production aircraft and that hushkitted and similarly modified aircraft make a disproportional contribution to the noise impact and degradation of the environment around airports.
The EU Transport Council unanimously adopted a common position on the draft regulation in November 1998. The European Parliament approved the Council's common position on 10 February 1999. Ireland agreed to the proposed regulation after a process of consultation with airlines on the Irish register. Through laying down common EU-wide aircraft noise standards and avoiding proliferation of unilateral measures, the regulation will ensure certainty of access to airports in other EU countries for airlines on the Irish register, including night freight operators.
