It is important to get passenger cap at Dublin Airport lifted, Taoiseach says

Ellen O'Donoghue

The Taoiseach has said it is important to get the passenger cap at Dublin Airport lifted.

The government could introduce legislation to raise the cap, marking a major intervention from the coalition.

Currently, the airport is limited to 32 million passengers a year - with the cap introduced in 2007 to combat traffic issues on surrounding routes.

At the moment, the passenger cap can only be changed by way of planning application to Fingal County Council.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Newstalk on Monday morning that he believes those issues are no longer relevant.

"We’re looking at every option to get this sorted, because I think it is a significant economic issue for the country, not just for Dublin. I think the cap was put in for a different reason, which is now expired in terms of the reasoning," Mr Martin said.

"Whatever we do has to be within the proper legal framework, and we’re conscious that anything we may do could be subject to challenge, but that said there is an imperative to get it lifted, in my view."

It comes after The Irish Times reported on Monday that Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has received legal advice from the Attorney General which could allow legislation to carve the decision out from planning laws.

It is claimed a 2022 precedent on temporary energy generation could be used here, but it wouldn't be risk-free and could be subject to legal challenges.

It is thought the draft options for moving forward are expected to arrive at the minister's desk in the coming weeks.