Passenger cap u-turn runs counter to Climate Action Plan ambitions - ICMSA
Dublin Airport and some airlines appear to have got a ‘free pass’ on climate "commitments" while farmers still have to meet emissions targets, according to a farming organisation.
Dublin Airport’s 32 million passenger cap is set to be lifted - a move which the Irish Creamery and Milk Supplier Association (ICMSA) claims is “mind boggling”.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien today secured agreement from cabinet for priority drafting of a new bill. This will give him the power to change the 32 million passenger cap at Dublin Airport.
Minister O’Brien said: “This government recognises the strategic importance of Dublin Airport as our primary international gateway and the vital role it plays in supporting economic growth, connectivity and jobs across the state.
“Today, I received government agreement for the publication of the General Scheme, which sets out the legislative approach to address the passenger cap.”
The president of ICMSA, Denis Drennan, said that “farmers and all connected with the state’s €19 billion food and agri sector would be looking on with envy at the degree of self-interest and freedom from climate commitments that the Irish government seemed to accord Dublin Airport and certain airlines”.
Drennan said the sight of the government “scrambling to lift the passenger cap at Dublin Airport and respond to the loud demands of executives was in very stark contrast to the attitude displayed to the farming and food sectors - and indeed other sectors - when the Climate Action Plan was being assembled and emissions reduction of 25% by 2030 for agriculture were set in law”.
The ICMSA President said it was “very difficult to avoid the conclusion that certain sectors were being given a ‘free pass’ on emissions reductions”.
He also said: “It’s been very interesting to watch our ministers and politicians of all parties not even raise the possibility that, just maybe, facilitating a massive expansion of air travel through Dublin Airport, specifically, ran counter to the national emissions reduction ambitions set out in the Climate Action Plan of just a few years ago.
“Farmers accepted the government’s assurances that this was going to be a national across-the-board drive to lower emissions but it’s now quite clear that this is not the reality.”
The ICMSA president said that the difference in the treatment of different sectors was “mind boggling” and “in defiance of any concept of fairness or evenhandedness”.
Dubin Airport Authority
Meanwhile, a Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) spokesperson said: “DAA strongly welcomes the decisive action being taken by government to resolve the cap issue once and for all.
“Together with DAA’s €2 billion plan to future-proof Dublin Airport’s infrastructure, the move to remove the outdated cap artificially restricting growth at Dublin Airport is good news for Ireland.
“As a small island nation, global connectivity is crucial to our economic prosperity and to sustain jobs and investment across the country. Standing still as our population grows and other cities and countries compete to draw flights and destinations away from Dublin would be an own goal.”
A readers poll carried out by Agriland previously found that 67% of respondents disapproved of passenger caps being lifted, and that 72% of respondents would approve of protests if this went ahead.
