Minister to publish legislation on passenger cap removal

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien has said he will this month publish legislation seeking to remove the Dublin Airport passenger cap amid ongoing division over whether the Government-promised move should take place.

In a statement to RTÉ News, Minister O’Brien said he will push ahead with the plan in response to the cross-party Oireachtas transport committee's decision yesterday to publish its report examining the impact of the potential new law.

The Government commitment to remove the Dublin Airport passenger cap has been a source of deep acrimony for a number of years, with local residents opposed to the move and companies impacted insisting it is needed to grow the airline sector.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Mr O’Brien said the removal of the passenger cap "is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and a priority for the Minister for Transport".

The spokesperson said Mr 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".

"Lifting the cap and precluding any future cap is critically important for our country, in terms of connectivity and economic growth."

The spokesperson said that "in parallel with the pre-legislative scrutiny taking place, drafting of the bill has been progressed and is now at a final stage" following the publication of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport’s report.

"The minister will now be bringing the bill to Government this month for agreement to publish," the spokesperson added.

"Enacting that legislation, to ensure that connectivity can be maintained and to facilitate further sustainable growth at the airport, will be completed this year.

"Throughout this process, the minister has engaged and met with key stakeholders and airlines, including Ryanair and Aer Lingus, and thanks them for their contributions."