Niall Collins
Ceist:183. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport his views on a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4779/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 1 February 2024
Ceisteanna (183)
Freagraí scríofa
As the deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility for the operation, management and development of Dublin Airport, and this includes seeking planning permission to ensure the airport has the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets, in line with national aviation policy.
I note the submission the Deputy has asked me to comment on is one related to an active planning application. As I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the application in light of this. All planning matters, including planning applications, submissions, amendments to planning conditions, appeals or enforcement of decisions are matters for the statutorily independent bodies such as the relevant planning authority or An Comisiún Pleanála, as appropriate. I have no role in this process.
Ireland has always had a liberal aviation policy that provides flexibility to stakeholders and serves as an enabler of the development of the sector. Complementing our National Aviation Policy is the liberalised EU single aviation market which provides EU air carriers the freedom to choose where in the EU to operate and the frequency and capacity of those operations.
EU regulation governs the operation of intra-community air services and does contain a provision for Member States to regulate the distribution of traffic between airports within its territory. Before such a measure can be implemented, consultation with interested parties must be carried out and the approval of the European Commission must be sought before adoption.
Any such redistribution must be undertaken without discrimination on destinations or nationality of air carriers. While several Member States have adopted such rules, where they have cities or conurbations served by multiple airports, for example, Amsterdam, Milan, and Paris, the state owned airports at Dublin, Cork, and Shannon would not meet such a condition. As such, the operation of air services to, from, and between these airports remains a commercial decision for the air carriers and airports concerned.