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25th March 2002

G.V. Wright Call for Penalties Against Airlines That Do Not Comply with Noise Procedures

Fianna Fail T.D., G.V. Wright has called on the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, T.D. to ask Aer Rianta to introduce a series of penalties against airlines which do not comply with Noise Abatement Procedures and create disturbance to nearby communities.

Aer Rianta has invested 1 million to install a Noise and Flight Track Monitoring System at Dublin Airport. They have indicated that they have a commitment to reducing the impact of noise on local communities affected by noise, but further assurances are necessary to assure these communities that this issue is being taken seriously explained G.V. Wright.

Aer Rianta has also indicated that they have had great cooperation from the Irish Aviation Authority and the airlines using Dublin Airport in introducing new noise abatement procedures. They report that the airlines have followed these procedures faithfully since their introduction. Nevertheless, the view has been expressed by local communities that a series of penalties should be introduced to ensure against the possibility of airline operators flaunting the regulations, subject to exemption for reasons of safety. They feel that without a schedule of penalties, operators who infrequently fly into the airport can ignore procedures and there is no procedure to stop them from doing this

Said G.V.Wright, While noting how the vast majority of airlines flying into Dublin have honored these new procedures, I believe it would further signify the seriousness of noise abatement procedures if Aer Rianta were to introduce a table of violations and penalties, based on international practice elsewhere. I am convinced in the case with the majority of airlines using Dublin Airport, that these penalties will never be enforced, but I believe that the local communities would have greater confidence that the Noise and Flight Track Monitoring System will do the job it is supposed to do.

ÒI am, therefore, asking the Minister for Public Enterprise, Mary O'Rourke, to instruct Aer Rianta to introduce a schedule of penalties against airlines violating noise abatement procedures at Dublin Airport concluded G.V. Wright.