Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has said an undertaking, by airlines, to be more climate-conscious must be part of the deal to remove barriers of growth at Dublin Airport.
Mr O’Brien was speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme when he confirmed the Government hopes to begin the long process of removing the 32 million per year passenger cap at Dublin Airport, in the coming weeks, and to promote growth at the airport.
It is thought that the cap might be fully removed by the end of next year, with the Government beginning the process of removing it before next month’s Budget.
Mr O’Brien told RTÉ that there would be an increase in emissions with the removal of the cap but airlines have a responsibility to lower them through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
He said: “Airplanes are far more advanced technologically now and are more efficient in relation to fuel use.
“We have obligations on the climate side and I’m acutely aware of that as Minister with responsibility for that.
“We’ve seen emissions reduce over the last two years in Ireland, whilst our economy and population continues to grow. So we’re making advances in many areas, and this is a balance that we will have to strike.”
