Ireland is losing out on tourism, business and jobs due to Government inaction on the Dublin Airport passenger cap, according to Ryanair.
The airline’s CEO launched a blistering attack on Transport Minister Eamon Ryan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin at a press conference in Dublin this morning.
Michael O'Leary said the Government must introduce emergency legislation to lift the passenger cap at the airport – insisting that it is a piece of national infrastructure that should not face the same planning liabilities as other facilities.
He said Ryanair is not increasing the number of routes it flies in and out of Dublin this year as a result of the cap and is sending new aircraft to other European cities instead.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has insisted that the passenger cap is a matter for planning authorities and it would not be appropriate for him to get involved.
At the press conference today, Mr O’Leary defended his decision to sit beside a photoshopped picture of Eamon Ryan wearing a dunce cap.
“I would say that is a fair comment and a statement of fact,” he said.
“If he delivers and lifts the cap at Dublin Airport, I will change those around and we will change the hats and go ‘Genius’ on it.
“We need action out of Eamon Ryan. I don’t know how else you would describe it; he has been Transport Minister for four years and we have a cap on passengers at our main airport and we can’t grow traffic for the next four years while it goes through planning.”
‘I don’t think it’s personally abusive, I think it’s a statement of fact.”
Michael O’Leary is defending his decision to hold a press conference featuring pictures of Eamon Ryan wearing a ‘dunce’ cap. pic.twitter.com/zlUZkAAnWd
— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) February 29, 2024
Dublin Airport last year came close to reaching its annual cap of 32 million passengers and has now lodged a planning application to improve facilities and increase the cap.
The cap was imposed by An Bord Pleanála when it approved the airport's second terminal.
Airport operator DAA says the expansion will create up to 20,00 new jobs; however, it is unclear how long the planning permission process will take.
Ryanair is urging the Government to step in a speed up the process, while Minister Ryan is insisting the planning process must be followed.
Mr O'Leary insisted he doesn’t have an anti-green agenda and claimed Ryanair was the greenest, cleanest airline in Europe.
“I am all in favour of the green environment,” he said.
“What we are trying to do here is expose the extent to which, after four years in office, we have a Green transport minister and Green tourism minister who are doing nothing – they are presiding over a cap.”
DAA has said it aims to increase its passenger capacity by 25% in the next six years in order to keep pace with population growth.
Reporting from Stephanie Rohan.
