Eamon Ryan throws down gauntlet to Ryanair's Michael O'Leary on airline's emissions targets
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Environment and Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has thrown down the gauntlet to Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary on the airline's emissions targets.
Mr O'Leary has waged a media war with the minister over the passenger number cap at Dublin Airport, last week labelling Mr Ryan and his Green Party colleague Catherine Martin as "dunces".
Speaking in Brussels on Monday, Mr Ryan said the spat was not being personalised by him, but said that he was looking forward to meeting Mr O'Leary and pressing him on Ryanair's emissions goals.
In 2022, Ryanair announced its goal to go net zero and decarbonise by 2050, saying 34% of decarbonisation would come through the increased use of sustainable aviation fuels, 32% decarbonisation through technological and operational improvements, 24% decarbonisation through offsetting and other economic measures, and 10% decarbonisation through the introduction of better air traffic management.
However, Mr Ryan said that he wants to know how this would be achieved.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Michael O'Leary," Mr Ryan said.
"One of the first questions I'd have to ask is, Ryanair — like most of the European airlines — have set themselves an ambition to be net zero by 2050. That's a huge challenge.
"So how are we going to do? How are you going to get there and make aviation sustainable in that timeframe?
"That's what they have to do and they can do it ... working with energy ministers as well as transport ministers to make that happen. I look forward to sitting down with Michael to say, 'okay, let's work out how we do this, which is good for the country, good for our aviation security, as well as our energy security'."
Daa wants Fingal County Council to lift a cap that restricts the number of passengers at Dublin Airport to an annual 32m people, on the grounds that Dublin is the key airport to continue to deliver economic prosperity across the island.
Mr Ryan has recently rejected claims by the Ryanair boss that he has failed to give his full attention over a number of years to Dublin Airport and said he cannot intervene in a planning process at Fingal, the local council that is responsible for planning decisions at Dublin airport.
In an open letter, Mr Ryan later accused the Ryanair boss of mounting " highly personalised, inaccurate, and inflammatory" attacks against him.
Mr Ryan said he has invited Mr O'Leary to meet with him to discuss issues, but those invitations have "never once been taken up".
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