As the Deputy will be aware the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019 provides a wholly independent aircraft noise regulation process in accordance with EU Regulation 598/2014.
Noise abatement procedures in place in Ireland are fully consistent with the requirements of the Environmental Noise Directive and EU Regulation 598/2014, which together establish the common European framework for the assessment and management of aircraft noise.
Dublin Airport’s procedures operate within this framework and are therefore in full alignment with the standard European procedures.
With regard to the Deputy’s specific queries in relation to An Coimisiún Pleanála decision of July 2025 and the process followed in reaching this decision, this is a matter for An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) as the appeals body.
On the 8th of August 2025, ACP notified the EU Commission of the operating restrictions set out in its July 2025 decision, as required under Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 598/2014, and the EU Commission subsequently undertook an assessment of the process followed by ACP in its decision.
On the 10th of February 2026, following completion of its assessment, the EU Commission issued a notification advising that the process used by ACP for the proposed introduction of operating restrictions at Dublin Airport did not fully follow the Balanced Approach process, as set out in Regulation (EU) 598/2014.
The Balanced Approach involves consideration of a range of measures, such as reduction of noise at source, effective land-use planning and management, and noise abatement operational procedures, before implementing any noise-related operating restrictions at an airport.
In line with the provisions of Regulation (EU) 598/2014 and the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019, as the independent competent authority for this matter on appeal, it is up to ACP to determine the most appropriate next steps.
