- About SDLP
-
Our Ideas
- 1.A United Ireland
- 2.Acht na Gaeilge
- 3.Agriculture/Rural Communities
- 4.Education
- 5.Eleven Plus
- 6.Environment & Climate Change
- 7.Equality & Human Rights
- 8.Fighting Poverty
- Your Representatives
You are here
Fri 4th June
Dr. McDonnell said that while he accepted that the Minister had said he had not yet made a final decision the tone of his comments would “set alarm bells ringing.”
The South Belfast MP said that under the present terms of the Planning Agreement between the Airport and the DOE operators using the Airport could not offer for sale on scheduled flights more than two million seats in any period of 12 months.
Dr. McDonnell said; “It is my understanding that changes to the original agreement could not happen within five years. Yet the Minister is clearly suggesting that fundamental changes could in fact happen within a matter of weeks.
“His move has serious implications not just for those that will be directly affected if the curb on seat sale numbers is lifted. The reality is that if this change is pushed through it will have massive implications for all planning matters across Northern Ireland.
“It is hard to escape the conclusion that the Minister and the planners are actually making up policy on the hoof.
“The views of the residents will have to be taken into account. They will be the people that will be most directly affected by the increase in flight traffic.
“If the seats for sale restrictions can be wiped away at the stroke of a ministerial pen then any assurances that might be given as part of any new deal about operating hours and flight movements are nothing more than sheer fantasy.
“And if the Minister and the planners break this agreement on seat levels years before it was due to be revisited it will raise very serious questions regarding the entire planning process,” Dr. McDonnell said.
Email
mcdonnella@parliament.uk
Tel 028 9024 2474
Tel 028 90 52 1837
Filed Under:
You are here