Green Party calls Dublin Airport expansion 'crazy' as Eamon Ryan prepares to jet off for St Patrick's Day

The Green Party has criticised Dublin Airport's expansion plans as party leader Eamon Ryan prepares to jet off for St Patrick's Day. 

In 2023, the DAA confirmed plans to implement a range of improvements at Dublin Airport, enabling them to grow to between 32 million and 40 million passengers. 

These plans reportedly include enhanced terminals, new aircraft stands, upgraded car parks and a revamp of the Ground Transportation Centre. 

However, a number of politicians and environmental activists have expressed concern over the plans and their potential climate impact. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast yesterday morning (January 30), Green Party MEP for Dublin, Ciarán Cuffe, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast. 

He said, "It seems crazy in the middle of a climate emergency that we’re proposing to increase the capacity of Dublin Airport by 25%. 

"But it’s not just about the climate; it’s also about ensuring the people of Dublin can get a good night’s sleep. I think there’s real concerns about the noise pollution from these early morning and late night aircraft." 

He continued: "I don’t think we should let aviation off scot free.

"Yes, of course, we’re an island nation but I think to propose significantly increasing the amount of aircraft journeys in the middle of a climate emergency simply doesn’t make sense.

"I think we need to think long and hard about our emissions.

"Everyone should think twice about that shopping trip to New York or the stag or hen bash that we’ve been invited to in Prague." 

According to Cuffe, people should avail of more travel alternatives such as trains and boats. 

He said, "I’m a frequent flyer and I also make a lot of my travel by sail and rail. 

"I take the boat in the morning and end up in Brussels by the evening. For me, it’s an opportunity to catch up on emails and to catch up on reading. 

"I’m not saying this suits everyone but for myself as a white collar worker, it does make sense." 

However, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan - who is also Ireland's Minister for the Environment - recently defended the Government's plan to fly 37 other Irish politicians across the world for St Patrick's Day. 

In an interview on the Tonight Show, co-host Claire Brock asked Minister Ryan about whether he thought it was justifiable for so many politicians to visit 86 cities in 48 countries. 

He said, "I do. I think it's a valid question. I'm going to Brazil, one of the reasons I'm involved in international climate negotiations, I'm chair of the International Energy Agency this year, and Brazil is a country that has huge influence.

"Just at this time, they're chairing the G20 later this year and they're running the COP30 the year after, and I see it as part of my job to use the influence we have through those international negotiations to go to Brazil and actually speak to the government, speak to their Minister of the Environment about where we see the development of climate justice going. 

"I think it's a valid question but I do believe we have to engage in that climate diplomacy. For me in my role that justifies me travelling [sic]." 

“I do believe that we have to engage in that climate diplomacy”@EamonRyan on the government's decision to travel abroad on St. Patrick’s Day.#TonightVMTV pic.twitter.com/wgEmlT6A8r

— TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) January 30, 2024

When asked if he thought all 38 politicians should attend to their global engagements, he said, "I think we're a small country open to the world, and part of that is when you visit people in their country it does bring benefits. We learn by going abroad and other people learn about Ireland and I think that helps." 

A clip of the interview posted on TonightVMTV's X (formerly Twitter) page was viewed over 5,000 times, with dozens of comments criticising Minister Ryan's response. 

Considering Minister Ryan will travel from Dublin Airport to Brasília International Airport (where Brazil's seat of government is based), the approximate emissions for a round trip (approximately 8,676km each way) amount to 3.1 metric tons of CO2 equivalent. 

That's according to Flightfree.org, which also claims that avoiding the trip is as climate friendly as being vegetarian for 5.8 years. 

Ireland's government has pledged to become a net zero country by 2050, with Dublin Airport also making the same promise in the same time frame. 

The airport was formally designed carbon neutral in late 2020 by the global Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, which assesses and recognises the efforts of airports to manage and reduce their carbon emissions. 

Dublin Airport reportedly reduced its energy consumption levels by 48% in 2019 compared to average consumption levels in 2006-2008, and managing director Vincent Harrison hopes to reduce overall energy consumption by a further 30% by 2030. 

In December 2023, he stated, "Dublin Airport is committed to minimising its impact on the environment and achieving carbon neutrality is a hugely important milestone on that journey. 

"We have been working tirelessly to reduce the amount of energy that we use at the airport for many years and are very pleased with the formal recognition of carbon neutral status. But carbon neutrality is not enough. We must go significantly further, and we are dedicated to doing that.

"We plan to reduce our overall energy consumption by a further 30% by 2030 and we’re committed to becoming net zero for our carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest." 

It is currently unclear how an increase in carbon emissions caused by up to 40 million extra Dublin Airport passengers can be offset to reach this goal. 

However, in a statement to Newstalk yesterday, Dublin Airport confirmed plans to invest €400 million into twenty sustainability initiatives over the coming four years.