The new runway at Dublin Airport is critical national infrastructure. For the best part of two years, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, advised the House that he was preparing legislation to make the Irish Aviation Authority the competent authority to deal with noise regulation. A number of months ago, the Government changed tack and confirmed that it would bring forward legislation to make Fingal County Council the competent authority to deal with noise regulation at the airport. This is a delay involving critical national infrastructure. Can the Tánaiste tell the House today when we can expect to see the legislation before the House for debate? Certainly, we have grave reservations on this side of the House about making Fingal County Council the competent authority and want an opportunity to debate the issue.

This is about making the appropriate decision on the authority which will make determinations on appropriate sound levels in relation to a new runway. There was an initial recommendation that the Irish Aviation Authority should be the regulatory authority, but on good advice, it is now proposed that it be Fingal County Council. We discussed the matter in Cabinet a number of weeks ago and it is being prioritised by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. We are more than aware of the importance of the infrastructure to Dublin Airport and its growth and expansion. I expect that we will see the legislation shortly but I do not have a date for the Deputy. I can ask the Minister to come back to him.