Minister O'Brien to Publish Legislation This Month to Remove Dublin Airport Passenger Cap

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien announced his intention to publish legislation this month aimed at removing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport. This move comes amidst ongoing debate regarding the government's commitment to lift the cap.

In a statement to RTÉ News, Minister O’Brien confirmed he would proceed with the plan. This decision follows the cross-party Oireachtas transport committee's recent publication of its report, which examined the potential impact of the proposed new law.

The commitment to remove the Dublin Airport passenger cap has been a contentious issue for several years. Local residents have expressed opposition, while businesses affected by the cap argue its removal is essential for the growth of the airline sector. A spokesperson for Minister O’Brien stated that lifting the cap is a «key commitment in the Programme for Government and a priority for the Minister for Transport».

The spokesperson further clarified that Minister O’Brien is in the «final stages of bringing the relevant legislation to Government to empower him to make an order to amend or revoke the passenger cap». They emphasized that «Lifting the cap and precluding any future cap is critically important for our country, in terms of connectivity and economic growth». The drafting of the bill has progressed to its final stage, running in parallel with pre-legislative scrutiny, following the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport’s report. The minister plans to present the bill to the Government this month for agreement to publish, with the enactment of the legislation, intended to maintain connectivity and facilitate sustainable airport growth, expected to be completed this year. Minister O’Brien has engaged with key stakeholders and airlines, including Ryanair and Aer Lingus, throughout this process.