As a previous Minister for transport the Taoiseach will be acutely aware of the importance of a second runway at Dublin airport. The runway is at capacity. Over 18 months ago, the EU issued a directive instructing that we make an independent body a competent authority to deal with noise regulations. The airport authority needs to know who this is, as do the local residents who are concerned about the construction of a second runway. We were advised 12 months ago that it would be the Irish Aviation Authority, but last week in this Chamber, a year on, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport was unable to say if it would still be the Irish Aviation Authority, if there would be a statutory instrument and if primary legislation would be needed to make this independent body a competent authority.

Can the Taoiseach confirm who will be the competent authority to deal with this EU directive and will it be done by way of Statutory Instrument or primary legislation, so that it is put on the books of the Oireachtas?

The Deputy will forgive me if I am giving him out of date information but when I checked on this matter some weeks ago, it was still the intention that the Irish Aviation Authority will be the relevant body and discussions are ongoing between the Office of the Attorney General and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport regarding the appropriate legal mechanism. It could be a statutory instrument and primary legislation.