The European Commission has ruled that Ireland’s planning authorities failed to follow EU rules on new restrictions at Dublin Airport.
The proposal set an annual limit of 35,672 movements between 11pm and 7am and banned north runway operations at night except in specified circumstances.
The Commission stated that Irish authorities had not considered measures other than operating restrictions.
No fresh operating restrictions can apply until authorities informed the Commission so the original planning conditions for North Runway remain in place.
Ryanair welcomed the ruling as confirmation that the proposed cap breached EU law.
Michael O’Leary shared “Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin published a Programme for Govt 14 months ago in Jan 2025, in which he promised his Govt (with a 20-seat majority) would scrap Dublin Airport’s cap “as soon as possible”. Now, the EU Commission has embarrassingly moved before his Govt to find An Coimisúin Pleanála’s night-time cap to be in breach of EU law. When will Micheál “Do Nothing” Martin do something to stop these artificial caps being applied by local planning bodies by passing legislation before St Patrick’s Day to scrap caps at Dublin Airport for the benefit of jobs, our tourism industry and our economy?”
