In a move that sparked major debate and divided government parties, the company responsible for the operation of Dublin Airport applied in December for planning permission to increase a cap on passenger numbers.
The application would see the cap on passenger numbers increased to 40m annually, from 32m.
The cap limits environmental emissions linked to the activity of the airport but those who want to see it increased argue the current cap constricts economic activity.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar supports the application by the company which operates the airport, daa. However, local Green Party TD and Minister for State, Joe O'Brien, opposes it.
As part of The Conversation from RTÉ's Upfront with Katie Hannon, we asked two people to join our WhatsApp group to discuss the proposal.
Professor in Sustainable Energy at University College Cork, Hannah Daly, says increasing the cap will increase greenhouse gas emissions at a time when we've committed to cutting them.
Aidan Sweeney, Head of Enterprise and Regulatory Affairs at IBEC, believes the cap must be lifted due to our population growth and the need for international connectivity.
Professor Hannah Daly
Good morning, Aidan. I'm looking forward to our conversation. I became concerned about the public discussion around the increase in passenger numbers at Dublin Airport when I saw daa leadership claim that expansion is actually necessary for the airport to become more sustainable.
As it turns out, they were just looking at the ground emissions per passenger, and analysis for the airport's planning submission actually shows that greenhouse gas emissions will rise by around 750,000 tonnes as a result of the application. I think it is very important to at least be upfront about the environmental cost of this decision.
Aidan Sweeney
Good morning, Hannah. It is important that the public discussion is also informed by the business case for the growth of Dublin Airport.
As a trade-intensive island at the edge of Europe, the Irish economy is heavily reliant on international connectivity for airline passengers and cargo.
It is vital that Dublin Airport - as Ireland's global gateway - is supported with the necessary infrastructural upgrades. The arbitrary 32 million passenger cap must be lifted to reflect our continued population growth and international connectivity demands. It prevents the intensification of use of the existing terminals, combined with planned infrastructure upgrades.
The application submitted to Fingal County Council is a package of 11 distinct infrastructure projects, in addition to the passenger cap debate.
Professor Hannah Daly
I don't think anyone can deny the benefits of air travel, for connectivity, tourism and business. But climate change will damage economies across the world profoundly unless it is halted. We are just now witnessing the start of the damage.
Ireland is a very high-emitting country for our population size, and we have committed in national law and through international agreements to cut emissions. Isn't it time to have a national discussion on what a truly sustainable economic model looks like, one that doesn't require high-emitting sectors to grow?
Aidan Sweeney
First, it is important to state that the passenger cap from its outset has nothing to do with emissions reduction or noise. It was put in place due to capacity constraints in and around Dublin Airport in areas outside their direct control. This of course does not negate the importance of climate action and the role of business in taking a more strategic and far-reaching approach.
As you point out, emissions are covered by national or international obligations. It can vary according to sector etc. Issues to do with flight emissions are far beyond the remit of Fingal County Council, and even the Government itself. Flight emissions are regulated through international emissions management agreements, such as the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme.
Professor Hannah Daly
You have identified an important issue - emissions from international aviation have not been brought into our national carbon budgets, even though it is a significant and rapidly growing source. International agreements are weak, and as a result, emissions from European aviation are projected to continue to grow.
At a time when national emissions have to fall by 51% by 2030, and likely by around 90% by 2040, it is a contradiction to allow one sector to continue to grow.
It will also work against the solidarity we need across sectors - if emissions from aviation can grow, the agriculture sector will also argue for exemptions.
Aidan Sweeney
These are important issues but cannot be addressed unilaterally by Ireland, or - more to the point - the passenger cap. Engagement with the future EU climate agenda such as 'Fit for 90' is important. While each sector is tasked with its own decarbonisation agenda and targets, it is important to recognise that sectors such as aviation support the wider economy and society.
For example, Ireland is in an unusual position in Europe, with one of the EU's youngest and fastest growing populations. Our population has grown 30% over the last two decades - the third fastest rate in the EU. Should the passenger cap be adjusted to reflect population growth alone, this would lead to a new cap of 37 million passengers per annum – as the 2010 cap of 32 million implemented upon completion of Terminal 2 is now entirely outdated.
Professor Hannah Daly
I certainly don't deny that aviation brings many benefits. It is a privilege and luxury to be able to fly, but at the same time we have to acknowledge that it comes at a big cost to the climate.
Emissions per passenger from taking a single return flight from London to Rome are greater than the average emissions produced by the citizens of 17 countries in a whole year.
Aviation has also benefited from indirect fossil fuel subsidies - jet kerosene is exempt from excise and carbon taxes. Should we not pause the planned increase in aviation until it can be guaranteed the sector can at least stabilise its emissions?
Aidan Sweeney
No, because the wider social cost of maintaining this restrictive cap cannot be ignored. Passenger mobility is more than a tourist issue or saying that everyone travelling through the airport is going on holidays. The Irish economy has witnessed spectacular employment growth (14% versus an EU average of 3%) in recent years.
A record 2.7m people are currently employed across the economy, with migration playing a key role in meeting the growing demand for skills and talent, with almost 1 in 5 workers being foreign-born.
International connectivity is essential for keeping people, businesses and markets connected across the globe. It contributes to attracting and retaining Ireland's increasingly international labour pool, including an increasingly mobile workforce. There are also social benefits too as it allows them to keep connected with family and friends.
We must continue to enhance the resilience of the Irish economy by future proofing our national infrastructure. Pausing or standing still is not an option. We must continue to support the development and deployment of decarbonising technologies across all our sectors, including aviation.
Professor Hannah Daly
I'm not questioning the benefits of aviation. The question this boils down to is whether we are prepared to accept limits (not a stop) to these benefits in order to live within planetary limits?
Aidan Sweeney
It is important that all sectors decarbonise for us to reach our 2050 net zero targets. However, this must include acknowledgement that hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as aviation must be actively supported in this transition.
For example, Government must do more to drive investment and production of sustainable aviation fuels like our strategy in scaling other renewable energy markets such as wind and solar.
Professor Hannah Daly
There is a misconception that Ireland's main climate target is net-zero by 2050 - the daa chief executive Kenny Jacobs is reported to have claimed that this is "the only metric that mattered."
But global warming only stops getting worse when we hit net-zero (and will stay at that level) - it is cumulative emissions that count, not emissions in 2050.
So, in conclusion, my main view is that those discussing aviation's climate impact should at the very least be honest about its impact, rather than focussing on emissions in 2050, or emissions per passenger. Aviation emissions will continue to increase with more passenger numbers, at the detriment of our commitment to helping to halt climate change.
Finally, I think that we need to have a more balanced discussion about economic growth. We are currently living far, far beyond our means, environmentally. How can we have a thriving and fair country, while living within planetary limits?
Aidan Sweeney
In conclusion, Dublin Airport, like our other state airports, must continue to play an essential role in our future economic prosperity. This is recognised as a national strategic statutory planning objective under the National Planning Framework.
The inability to futureproof our national strategic infrastructure not only risks constricting future economic growth, but in the case of a restrictive passenger cap, consumers will also fall victim to increased air fares and lack of sufficient competition on routes.
It is important to reiterate that the passenger cap when it was introduced over 15 years ago was not tied to emissions.
We both agree that emissions are an international/EU matter and competence. We must support hard-to-decarbonise sectors to meet net zero 2050 targets and to make the necessary investments in technologies and solutions to make this a reality.
As environmental issues have become issues for the economy, businesses are taking a more strategic and far-reaching approach to their efforts, to not just mitigate the effects of climate change.
Dublin Airport's submitted infrastructure plan seeks to make corresponding investments to improve the airport's capacity, sustainability, and overall passenger offering.
This is why it is important that Fingal County Council approves the application in a timely manner.
Watch Upfront with Katie Hannon on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player at 10.35 every Monday evening.
