Newsletter Nr.3 - June 2001


ANGER AT MINISTERS SNUB FOR UPROAR
There is mounting anger in Portmarnock over the refusal by Minister O'Rourke to defer the commencement of the Environmental Impact Study into the construction of the

Uproar has been campaigning for the commissioning of an independent study into the future aviation policy in Ireland and in particular to examine the feasibility of constructing a second airport for Dublin within a fifty mile radius of the city.
In an adjournment motion in the Dail, Sean Ryan TD. sought to debate "the need to reconsider the decision to construct a new runway at Dublin Airport and the need to identify an alternative facility in the regional and National interest." This motion was strongly supported by Nora Owen T.D.fourth runway at Dublin Airport.
The Minister's prepared reply totally ignored the repre-sentations which have been made to her and fly in the face of comments which her colleague G.V. Wright offered to our committee.
The full text of the Minister's reply is available on this site.

Letter of Protest
The Minister outraged residents of Portmarnock by supporting Aer Rianta's decision to proceed with the Environmental Impact Study. "She is placing commercial interests of a soon to be privatised state company ahead of the interests and concerns of residents.
It is intended that a letter of protest to the Taoiseach will be delivered to her colleague Deputy G.V.Wright at his clinic in Malahide on Saturday 23rd June by a deputation.


Minister's Reply Misleading
The Minister has attempted to mislead residents by suggesting that consideration of a second airport for Dublin has already been the subject of an independent study. This is not the case. The study which the Minister referred to was carried out by UK consultants into the future financial strategy for Aer Rianta. It is grossly misleading to suggest that this study adequately investigated the desirability of a second Dublin Airport.
It did not look at the social, environmental, planning and health issues concerned with such a massive development. Again it reflects this Minister's priorities to sell off Aer Rianta at a high price and to ignore the reasonable and legitimate concerns of the community.

Mary O'Rourke plans that Portmarnock Residents contribute £125,000,000 to New Runway
That is what it could cost in terms of devaluation of our property.
2,500 houses devalued by average £50,000 per house = £125,000,000
"There are problems getting people even to view a house next to an airport, although the area is one of the most beautiful in the southeast. The noise pollution definitely affects the value of a property".
(Bargain under Gatwick flight path -Sunday Times)

Runway Referendum
The Government did not listen to the people in relation to the Nice Treaty. Over four thousand residents have signed petitions opposing the fourth runway at Dublin Airport. Let us hope that the Government has learned their lesson and will listen to us.
Portmarnock will NOT accept anymore noise pollution, or dangers of living under a flight path.

Why a second airport makes good sense!
Here are four good reasons why the government should develop a second airport to serve the greater Dublin region instead of building a second east-west runway at the existing airport.

National Spatial Strategy
"Without a National strategy to secure more balanced regional development the greater Dublin area could reach a population of 2.4 million by 2020 and the midlands would lose population." (Irish Times 26th April 2001)
A second airport within a 50/60 mile radius of Dublin should be a part of this National Strategy. This would create jobs away from the greater Dublin region and would lead to the development of larger towns in close proximity to it.
Such an airport would be more accessible to many living to the South and West of Dublin. Stanstead, with its high-speed rail link to London is an example of such an airport.

An Economic Argument
The Minister wants to spend in excess of 100 million pounds on a new runway at Dublin Airport. It would make much greater sense to spend this money on a new airport.

Aer Rianta Monopoly
By allowing a second east/west runway at Dublin Airport, Government is effectively creating a Monopoly position for Aer Rianta. This flies in the face of EU thinking and Government's own policy as applied to other industries. By then privatising Aer Rianta, Government plans to pass this monopoly into the private sector and possibly with foreign investment.

Vulnerability of one airport
With a single airport a stranglehold could be applied to the movement of passenger and cargo traffic in the Dublin area by disgruntled groups. A second airport reduces this possibility.
Minister - STOP and THINK - There is a better way

RACENIGHT
Congratulations to all who participated in the recent racenight to raise funds for UPROAR. A special thanks goes to our many sponsors who made the evening a very successful one.


IN THE PAPERS
"Come up and see me some time" - so said Bob Hilliard of Aer Rianta in the Fingal Independent. Does he not realise that the airport comes to Portmarnock every day of the week with noise and other forms of pollution. Get real Mr. Hilliard

"Can anyone envisage the impact 40 million passenger movements per year would have on residents of Fingal?"
(Sean Ryan T.D. - Northside People)

"Anyone who has had the tranquillity of their house and garden invaded by the roar of a low flying aircraft must feel sympathy for the people of Portmarnock."
(Joseph Glynn - Earthwatch)

Nora Owen says "No"
Nora Owen is totally opposed to another runway at Dublin Airport, she recently told a meeting of UPROAR. She has met with Minister Mary O'Rourke and called on her to halt Aer Rianta's planning work for this new runway. After her meeting, Nora Owen concluded that the Minister was determined to press ahead with the project without any regard for Portmarnock residents.
Nora Owen also spoke in support of our cause in the Dail Adjournment Debate on 23rd May following questions raised by Sean Ryan (Lab).

Local Fine Gael Councillor, Sean Dolphin, is also totally opposed to any new runway. "The impact of this proposal would have a huge affect on Portmarnock and would seriously damage the quality of life for residents" - he said



Sean Ryan gives great support
Deputy Sean Ryan (Labour), at a meeting with UPROAR pledged his support to Portmarnock residents in opposing another runway. He reminded Uproar that back in last October when speaking on the Aviation (Regulation) Bill he questioned the necessity for a 4th Runway at Dublin Airport.

"Can anyone envisage the impact of 40 million passenger movements p.a. at the airport in the future. It will lead to major traffic congestion, chronic gridlock affecting business and quality of life and the impact of noise pollution on residential areas..." Sean Ryan has tabled several questions in the Dail on the topic particularly: "To ask the Minister if she will arrange for a study to identify an alternative site for a second international airport in the region; and if she will direct that all preparatory work on the second runway cease." The Minister's reply was a NO and NO.

ClIr. Peter Coyle has also expressed his full support for UPROAR'S position and has undertaken to brief his Labour Party colleagues on this matter.