Eamon Ryan hits back at Michael O'Leary's 'inaccurate' attacks

Pointing to a number of "completely false" accusations he claimed Mr O'Leary has made against him, the Transport Minister reissued his "open invitation" to meet face to face.

It comes after Mr O'Leary has been strongly critical of Mr Ryan both on radio and in an open letter issued on Friday in which he repeated his call for the minister's resignation.

Tensions have been escalating over the Green Party's opposition to proposals that would raise the passenger cap at Dublin Airport beyond the current 32m which Mr O'Leary says is necessary to meet growing demand and to keep airfares down.

Dublin Airport has already submitted an application to Fingal County Council to raise this cap to 40m passengers each year.

However, serious concerns have been raised around the environmental impact of air travel as well as noise pollution around the airport.

Responding to a number of accusations made by Mr O'Leary including a claim that "other EU airports are laughing at Ireland’s traffic cap", Mr Ryan said he "fundamentally disagrees" with the airline CEO, adding that he has worked tirelessly to deliver benefits to Irish people, in aviation, and in every other issue and division across his portfolios.

Mr Ryan said Mr O'Leary's contention that he "disappeared during the security queues crisis at Dublin in Summer 2022," is is "completely false".

"I worked assiduously, alongside my colleague Minister Hildegarde Naughton TD, with daily meetings to ensure that the daa was fully supported and the airport returned to normal for passengers and staff alike," Mr Ryan wrote. He continued: 

Similarly, you are wrong to assert that I was not around for the drones issue. The truth is I engaged directly and effectively to ensure that systems were put in place to reduce the threat of illegal drone activity in and around the airport. 

"Dublin Airport now has clearance to use anti-drone technology and has the legal right to jam their frequencies or even take them down."

Addressing the latest row over the proposed lifting of the passenger cap, Mr Ryan told Mr O'Leary:  "You know as Minister for Transport I cannot intervene in the planning process, including the application seeking an extension of the existing passenger cap at Dublin Airport. That would be wholly inappropriate and would mean that we had not learnt the lessons of the past."

Mr Ryan ended his letter by once again issuing an invitation for an in-person discussion on all aviation matters.

"Throughout this whole period, you have written many letters that have been highly personalised, inaccurate and inflammatory. I have invited you, through your executives, to meet with me, to discuss any issues you have face to face. Those invitations have never once been taken up. I reiterate this open invitation to you again should you wish to accept," the letter stated.