Legislative Process
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-16
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Jack Chambers (FF), Dublin West

We want to lift the passenger cap. I do not believe it is a matter for broad deference to the courts to decide on that matter. We are very clear in our objective within Government to lift the passenger cap and to grow passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. I do not believe the climate legislation should be used to undermine that. It is an economic necessity for Ireland to do that. Similarly, we have critical infrastructure which should not be undermined because certain NGOs can take cases in respect of it, or anybody can bring uncertainty. People have a right to take judicial reviews but we as legislators should seek to remove ambiguity within our legislative framework. This presents risk within our legislative framework. That is the context around critical infrastructure. When it comes to what the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is doing on LNG, there are also energy security concerns which have been brought to light in recent weeks which we have to respond to and be honest about. He is working on that separately. We are very clear that the definition in respect of infrastructure relates to State-funded projects or programmes. Obviously there would be a limited number which are designated in that context, which we brought to the Dáil as well. We have to get momentum in this. If we continue to be deferential, provide ambiguity and have multiple legal avenues and judicial reviews, no matter how much spending we put aside for infrastructure, we will not improve delivery.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:49+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-16