The process of drafting legislation that will remove Dublin Airport's 32 million a year passenger cap is expected to happen soon.
A spokesperson for Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien said he is to bring a memo on the issue to Cabinet in the coming weeks.
They said the Minister is now pursuing "a legislative course of action" to make the lifting of the passenger cap happen.
It is understood that he will bring a memo to Government on the policy decision and to seek approval for the "development of a general scheme" and associated heads of Bill.
"If approved, a second memo with a General Scheme and associated heads of Bill to be brought to Government for a decision on priority drafting thereafter."
The passenger cap at Dublin Airport is a long-running row with concerns vocalised regularly on both sides of the dispute.
Earlier this week, Michael O' Leary, Chief Executive of Ryanair, accused the Government of breaking its promise with the current cap of 38 million passengers a year still in place.
"We elected a Government. They published a programme in January, promising to remove the cap as soon as possible, and nine months later, in September, no action," he said. "We have a do nothing Government, a do nothing Minister."
These signs of movement is likely to see arguments raised again on the economic benefits of removing the cap versus a rise in pollution.
While the passenger limit is opposed by airlines and the Dublin Airport Authority, resident groups and climate campaigners are angered by this likelihood of it progressing, in what they say, is the wrong direction.
Niamh Maher, a spokesperson for St Margaret’s The Ward Residents Group, said it is deeply upsetting that this is happening as other issues of concern such as more night flights have not been resolved.
Children's Rights over Flights, a climate action group said it is "appalled" to hear that Minister Darragh O’Brien is attempting to push through the removal of the passenger cap at Dublin airport.
In a statement, it said "it is truly shocking that a minister tasked with tackling climate change "is taking steps that would massively increase the pollution causing".
The cap on passengers at Dublin Airport has been in place since 2007 to limit traffic congestion.
Daa estimated that total greenhouse gas emissions at Dublin Airport would rise by almost 8% in 2026 if the passenger cap was lifted from 32 million to 36 million as proposed in their rejected planning permission.
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