Green Ministers, TD’s & MEP’s “Object” To Raising At Dublin Airport Cap As Under Used 2^nd Runway Opens And Transport Minister Hides

Ryanair, Ireland’s No 1 airline, today (2 Feb) called on Ireland’s useless Transport Minister Eamon Ryan to resign, as a number of Green TD’s including Junior Ministers in his own party and MEP’s, lodge objections to raise the 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport. Unless this idiotic passenger cap is lifted, then all growth and new flights will bypass Dublin, and instead go to London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Ireland’s tourism industry depends on modest growth for its survival. As an island on the periphery of Europe, Ireland is critically dependent on growing low-cost air access for its economic development, particularly when this growth takes place on new Ryanair aircraft, which carry 4% more passengers but burn 16% less fuel, and are 40% quieter.

As Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan’s position is untenable when he allows his Green Party TD’s and MEP’s and Junior Ministers to block growth at Dublin Airport. Why is a Green TD for Limerick objecting to a Dublin Airport growth plan? Why is frequent flyer and Green MEP Ciaran Cuffe objecting to growth at Dublin Airport? What is the point of a Green Transport Minister who allows his own Ministers, TD’s and MEP’s to block growth and low fares at Dublin Airport when he has failed to tackle any aviation issues over the last 4 years;

● He was asleep during the security queues crisis in Summer 2022.      

● He was asleep when drones closed Dublin Airport 6 times in Spring 2023.

● He is asleep now while growth at Dublin Airport is capped despite the recent opening of a 2^nd runway in 2023, which increases Dublin Airport’s capacity to 50m passengers.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“Eamon Ryan’s position as Transport Minister is untenable. He has failed to tackle any air transport issues over the last 4 years. He has failed for 4 years to develop any aviation policy for Ireland, and he has now failed to take action while a number of his own Green TD’s (including Junior Minister, Joe O’Brien) and MEP’s, launch objections to a modest increase in the artificial traffic cap at Dublin Airport. As an island on the periphery of Europe, Ireland and Irish tourism need growth in low-cost air access, particularly when this growth is being delivered on new and more efficient aircraft, which carry more passengers but burn less fuel and reduce noise emissions as well.

Eamon Ryan is an incompetent Transport Minister. After 4 years in office, Dublin is now the 2^nd most congested city in Europe, and now Dublin Airport is Europe’s only capital city airport which has an artificial planning ban on any growth despite opening a 2^nd runway less than 12 months ago. Ireland’s aviation industry and the future of Irish tourism cannot be left in the hands of an incompetent and useless Green Minister. He should immediately instruct Fingal County Council and An Bord Pleanála to abandon this idiotic 32m passenger cap at Dublin Airport, he should resign and let someone competent develop Irish air transport.”