An EU move to curb environmental noise could force a reduction of 40 per cent in flights through Dublin Airport, the Fine Gael MEP, Ms Avril Doyle, has warned.
She said yesterday she was concerned about the impact of a proposal for an EU directive on the "Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise" due to be debated at the plenary session in Strasbourg next week.
Speaking in Brussels, she added: "I am particularly worried about Amendment 36 in the report, which would restrict the size of aircraft and the number of flights in and out of Dublin Airport by 40 per cent."
She accepted the need to tackle the environmental aspects of air transport and industrial noise, but added: "We must be realistic and do so with complete knowledge about the consequences of our decisions here in Europe. Unlike continental Europe, Ireland is particularly vulnerable because of our island status."