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Public Consultation on General Scheme of Dublin Airport (Passenger Cap) Bill 2026

An Taisce welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to help inform the Pre-Legislative  Scrutiny process for the General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026. While we recognise the value of Dublin Airport for trade and tourism in an island nation such as  Ireland, and its importance as a transportation hub, An Taisce is opposed to the proposed capacity expansion, including in passenger numbers, and the negative environmental and community impacts  this will lead to. We submit that the economic growth justifications put forward are overly prioritised  in comparison to environmental and social considerations, therefore demonstrating an imbalance in the weighting of these three pillars of sustainability.

To read the full report, click this link or click on the document image below:

On 5 April 2026, An Taisce's Planning and Environmental Officer Sean O'Callaghan and Professor Barry McMullin from An Taisce's Climate Committee appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport to discuss the General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill.

You can download their full opening statement by clicking this link.

Excerpt:

An Taisce Opening Statement to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport Regarding the General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026

An Taisce very much welcomes the opportunity to appear before the Committee to discuss the General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026. An Taisce has multiple serious concerns regarding the Heads of Bill.

It is our view that the impact of aviation sector emissions on climate has not been given sufficient emphasis to date. We recognise the significant role of Dublin Airport for economic activity. However, we strongly believe that the potential for emissions increases arising from lifting the passenger cap demands serious scrutiny. Dublin Airport has consistently been listed as Ireland’s single largest greenhouse gas emitting facility, responsible for between 2.8-2.92 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually, the same as about 1.4 million cars.

Much of the focus to date has been on narrow economic aspects of the proposal. However, we need to take a holistic approach to assessing the economic risks and benefits, such as an independent, evidence-based analysis of outbound flights versus inbound tourism in terms of economic returns to the State. There are also very significant economic costs associated with the impacts of climate change and with non-compliance with emissions reduction obligations.