Dublin Airport needs a new northern runway but not a new terminal building, until 2030 at the earliest, the SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction (TEAC) Division Biennial Delegate Conference was told today (Friday, 23rd November) in Liberty Hall, Dublin 1. Addressing more than 140 delegates, TEAC Division Organiser, Greg Ennis, said: “Just to be absolutely clear, the TEAC Division and this union supports the expeditious construction of the new €320 million northern runway at Dublin Airport. While we welcome the DAA’s recent announcement of its €900 million expenditure plan to cater for extra capacity, which will see up to 40 million passengers per annum using Terminal 1 and 2, a new terminal at Dublin Airport is not required now or in the near future.” He added: “Should any new terminal be built after 2030, it must be state owned, state operated with an organised unionised workforce.” Ennis also dealt with the need for the creation of a ‘Just Transition Fund’ to assist Bord na Móna workers and their communities adapt to the move towards a low carbon economy. Other issues he addressed included the underfunding of public transport, enforcement of the Construction Sectoral Employment Order and the demand of union members to be involved in an adequate local authority led public house building programme. On the issue of health and safety, Ennis emphasised its importance across the economic sectors he organises and highlighted the recent death of Pilipino Seafarer, Dennis Gomez Regana, in an accident in Dublin Port, the third such tragedy in the environs of Dublin Port in the last 18 months. He added: “We have sought an urgent meeting with Minister for Transport, Shane Ross, on this matter as this must stop now. SIPTU, alongside our colleagues in the International Transport Federation have consistently campaigned for the job of lashing and securing cargo to be regulated and certified to ensure that trained and competent shoreside dock workers carry out this task as opposed to already overworked and poorly paid seafarers.”
SIPTU supports extra runway but opposes new terminal for Dublin Airport
