The Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to work with stakeholders to achieve the objective of lifting the passenger cap at Dublin airport as soon as possible.
In line with that commitment, in September 2025, I secured agreement from my Government colleagues to pursue a legislative course of action to address the passenger cap planning condition and on 10 February this year I secured further approval for the legislative approach to be taken, as set out in the General Scheme of the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill 2026. The General Scheme is currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny and at the same time my officials are working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel on the drafting of the Bill.
The legislation will empower me, as the Minister for Transport to make an order to amend or revoke the Dublin Airport passenger cap planning condition taking account of the outcome of the environmental assessments required under EU law which will be undertaken by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
On January 5 this year, members of Airlines for America filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation (US DoT) against Ireland and the European Union in relation to an alleged violation of the EU-US Air Transport Agreement as a result of the passenger cap. My Department provided a detailed response to this complaint to the US DoT on the 23rd of January 2026 refuting the claims made by Airlines for America.
I have corresponded with the Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to outline the steps being taken to address the passenger cap and I have met via video conference with the Deputy Secretary of Transportation. I have committed to updating Secretary Duffy as work on this priority legislation progresses. My officials have also engaged with their counterparts in the US DoT and State Department to update them on the actions being taken by Government to address the passenger cap.
Finally, I expect the report from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport to be published this week. Once I receive the report of the Committee, I will consider their recommendations before finalising the Bill. It is then my intention to seek government approval to publish the Bill and to commence the enactment process through the Houses of the Oireachtas.
