Release: Corporate Governance Campaign
The North Runway Technical Group (NRTG) has launched a major public letter campaign targeting government departments, regulators, and public bodies over the State’s ongoing failure to enforce planning and environmental law at Dublin Airport.
A series of 14 formal letters—now available on the NRTG website—have been sent to the Minister for Transport, the Minister for Local Government and Planning, Fingal County Council, the Corporate Enforcement Authority, airlines, and other key stakeholders.
The letters warn that continued State inaction exposes communities, the environment, and the taxpayer to escalating legal, financial, and safety risks.
“This campaign is not about raising new concerns,” said Gareth O’Brien of the North Runway Technical Group. “The facts have been known for over two years. What is missing is action. Every day the Government refuses to intervene increases the risk of litigation, regulatory breaches, and public harm.”
State Failure at the Heart of the Crisis
The letter campaign highlights that multiple State bodies—including Fingal County Council, the Department of Transport, and the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA)—have failed to act despite clear evidence that the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) is operating the North Runway in breach of its 2007 planning permission.
Key facts include:
- An Bord Pleanála (ABP) has confirmed that the current North Runway departure routes are materially different from those approved and assessed in the 2007 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
- The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has confirmed that the unauthorised early turns (at only 400 feet above ground) were not mandated for aviation safety purposes.
- These unauthorized changes have caused a 335% increase in the number of people directly overflown, exposing thousands of residents to noise levels never assessed or approved.
Despite these confirmations, Fingal County Council has failed to respond to direct requests for confirmation of enforcement action, and Ministers responsible for transport and planning have failed to intervene.
Public Safety and Environmental Risks
The early departure turns now send aircraft over a newly constructed bird sanctuary created under the original planning conditions—a routing that introduces new bird-strike safety risks that were never assessed in the original planning process. This further undermines daa’s claims to have introduced the new routing for “safety reasons”.
Additionally, serious governance concerns have been raised about the daa’s leadership, including a declared conflict of interest involving its CEO, who holds shares in airlines operating from Dublin Airport.
Risks Facing the State
- Legal Action: Legal challenges by residents and environmental groups over the unauthorised operations.
- EU Infringement: Failure to enforce planning conditions may expose Ireland to EU infringement proceedings.
- Public Trust: Every day of inaction erodes trust in Ireland’s planning system and regulatory institutions.
About the Letter Campaign
The NRTG has issued 14 detailed letters outlining the failures across State and regulatory bodies, setting out the technical breaches, legal implications, and urgent steps required.
The full set of letters is available for public review: