Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
340. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with any environmental campaign groups to discuss the impact of aviation on the climate during his term as Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45825/26]
View answerI want to begin by assuring the Deputy that I am committed to balancing the clear benefits of the aviation sector to the country with sustainability actions in line with my Department's Statement of Strategy. This includes the commitment to enhance international connectivity to maintain our global economic competitiveness, while striving to ensure that our transport system is integrated, resilient and decarbonised in a manner that is just, as well as economically and socially sustainable.
As part of that commitment, in August 2025 I published Ireland’s first Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Policy Roadmap, which recognises the important contribution that SAFs can make toward decarbonising the aviation industry, and aims to provide the building blocks for the deployment of SAF in Ireland. Other actions being taken are aligned with the global approach to decarbonisation of the aviation industry, which is based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation's ‘basket of measures’, and includes airlines continuing to adopt newer and more efficient aircraft, mandated increased use SAFs at EU level under the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) at international level. All of these measures are designed to ensure aviation meets the challenge of decarbonisation.
While I have not met with environmental campaign groups specifically to discuss the impact of aviation on the climate, I know that my officials have engaged directly with such bodies. I have met with a wide range of stakeholders, including meeting with community representatives, resident groups, airlines, lessors, and airports etc., to discuss aviation matters since I became Minister for Transport. As I’m sure the Deputy can appreciate, these meetings have covered a wide range of topics, including matters related to efforts to reduce aviation emissions and to decarbonise the aviation industry.
