Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026: Second Stage
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-01
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Martin Conway (IND), Administrative Panel

This additional €11 million would be available to support new routes that are of strategic importance, as Senator Ryan pointed out. It would also be available to assist in marketing, expand routes and support airlines that are prepared to take the risk of flying into places like Knock, Shannon and Waterford airports and, potentially, Galway, Donegal and other airports. While €11 million is not a huge sum, it would still go a significant way to enhancing the budgets of these airports. It would create more scope for critical infrastructure developments but, much more importantly, for supporting strategically important routes. We have tourism and regional development policies, and the rural first policy. Here is an opportunity to take just 1% of the turnover of Dublin Airport Authority and balance it in that way.
I reiterate that I am not a fan of the cap. I think it is punitive and ridiculous but there are other ways to skin the cat, and this is one of them. Let us talk about it. I would be happy to engage with the Minister of State's officials to come up with a wording that would be acceptable to him.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-01