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THE GOVERNMENT IS to pass legislation which will introduce minimum sentencing for repeat sex offenders, it emerged today.
It was announced that a private member’s bill brought in by Minister of State Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran will be adopted by the Government.
The new law will only apply when an offender is convicted of and is sentenced to imprisonment for a period of at least five years. If that person commits another sex offence within a seven-year period, then a tougher minimum sentence will be imposed.
Under the draft laws, the minimum period of prison time will three-quarters of the maximum term of imprisonment allowed for that crime.
In cases where the maximum imprisonment for that crime is life, then minimum sentencing of 10 years will apply.
The laws surrounding incest are also to be changed. As things stand, the punishment for incest by a man carries a sentence of up to life imprisonment whereas incest by a woman carries a maximum seven years imprisonment. The new law will aim to increase the maximum sentencing for women who commit this crime.
Moran said he was delighted that his private member’s bill is to be adopted by the Government and said that it should help protect families.
“Both issues will be contained in a Government Bill which Minister Flanagan will seek Cabinet approval for in the Autumn,” said Moran.
“I am truly delighted that my original Bill’s proposals are now being taken on by Government.
“I am absolutely delighted that I have been in a position to effect change and the fact that this Bill is now becoming part of Government legislation programme reflects the change that can happen from the Independent Alliance.”
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There’s more airports in Ireland than just Dublin and all need extra passengers to survive. If not they’ll fail and we will be left with just Dublin. Time now for action.
@Tom O’Hanlon: What action do you suggest? How can we force American, British or European passengers to choose Shannon or Cork if it is Dublin that they want to visit. Airlines don’t want to use small airports for connecting flights because their passengers will choose a different airline next time around (ever had to sit and wait for a flight in a small airport? Bad enough if your flight is delayed… why would you deliberately choose to do this for a connection?) Shannon & Cork will only grow if there is a demand and we cannot close our eyes and wish it into existance
@Paul Ennis: landing at smaller, out of the way airports is not a problem when the landing fee are low. If the government knocked 50-75% off these fees at Shannon they will be building new runways there in 5 years.
@Oh Mammy: The government doesn’t set the fees. Cork is already a lot cheaper than Dublin.
Landing/Take off charge in Cork is €4.20 per tonne vs Dublins €7.35 per tonne in the summer and €2.60 in the winter…….
Parking charges in Cork is €26.20 per 30mins or part thereof vs 35.80 per 15 mins or part thereof in Dublin…..
Air bridge use in Cork €3.75 per 15 mins or part thereof vs €9.30 per 15 mins or part thereof in Dublin.
It’s not as profitable for the airlines to base aircraft at EICK/EINN compared to EIDW or other European cities. If they could make more profit then there you can bet your house they would!
@Tom O’Hanlon: Nobody cares about other airports, they are basically useless. All inbound flights wants Dublin, that’s the fact.
@Tom O’Hanlon: another typical hate Dublin Airport comment, if airlines wanted to fly to Cork or Shannon they would, unfortunately they don’t want to, they don’t get the seat numbers needed to make it profitable. It’s all been tried before and didn’t work.
@Tom O’Hanlon:
Why not a new airport with all our extra billions. It’s hard to get into Dublin Airport!!
@Brendan shanahan: dublin South, developed baldonnel. Build air corps new facility elsewhere like Midlands.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: I try to learn something new every day. I just did. Thank you.
@Oh Mammy: I have a feeling that Knock-Abu Dhabi flights would not be profitable.
@Alex: What tourists want to see an utter kip like Dublin. Head west … WAW
@Lulu: go back to sleep.
The cap is a condition for planning permission based on the road infrastructure of 2007. The infrastructure has improved which makes the condition outdated and obsolete. How hard is it to make an assessment on the current road infrastructure and revise the cap upwards?!?! Bonkers country
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: DAA submitted an application to remove the condition, it’s currently with Fingal. They issued a request for further information. While it’s likely they’ll grant it, it will be appealed and held up in An Bord Pleanala. If they then grant it, it can then be Judicially reviewed and brought to the courts. Basically it’ll be 2027 before the condition is removed
@John Lee: Absolutely farce! The Paddy’s are the laughing stock of Europe again!!!! Well done DAA, FCC and Govt!…. Pity someone in govt can’t fast track it as a matter of urgency as it’s vital national infrastructure and for economic growth!!!!
What a shambles. A complete embarrassment to the people of this country. Jobs been lost and tourism been reduced but that maybe suits the government as they have filled our hotels already with people living in them .
@Patrick Khan: there is no room for expansion, its not safe or sensible. What don’t you understand?
@Patrick Khan: given the amount of people that currently fly in and out of a smallish European city like Dublin its hardly a shambles. 29 million is on par with Vienna and Munich.
@Basildon Joe: there is huge room for expansion. Both safe and sensible.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Munich had 37 million passengers last year .
@Basildon Joe: Your single braincell isn’t working again.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Comparing Munich and Vienna to Dublin is being 100% clueless. Dublin is a hub for many NA flights and not necessarily the destination. Munich and Vienna aren’t and Munich was already above Dublin last year. It’s an embassy that you can’t even take that into account.
@Alex: it’s an embarrassment *
@Basildon Joe: hold on now Joe. There is no need for expansion. The new runway project increased the expansion. The airport itself is well able to deal with an increase in air traffic and an increase in passengers. If it was still single runway ops I would agree. It is extremely safe. As someone who operates in and out of this airport on a daily basis. Trust me it’s safe.
@Patrick Khan: non paying people at that !!!!
Why are people travelling a few hours to Dublin from all over the country when there are under developed airports in the rest of the country.
@James Leahy: this is not rocket science. If people wanted to fly to Cork or Shannon or Knock then O’Leary in particular would facilitate them. But clearly not enough do.
The limiting of the largest and most important infrastructure of the state in this way is absolutely ludicrous. We’re an island. Air travel is vital. Ryan doesn’t understand this or doesn’t care. Either way he’s not fit to do his job.
A million less passengers next summer. That’s a lot of jobs lost.
@James Leahy: The other airports are not as profitable! Airlines decide where to fly to. They have analysts who assess the viability and profitablity of routes. They operate for profit, not to provide a local service for Cork, Shannon or Knock!
@James Leahy: You clearly don’t understand that MOST passengers are inbound not outbound and ALL inbound flights want to land in Dublin, it’s easy to understand isn’t it?
the way this country rips tourists off with hotel prices, drink prices, food prices and lots more we won’t have to worry about passenger caps because nobody will want to come here
I don’t think people realise how big of an issue this will be. A million less seats next summer. Can’t see charter companies will get slots. Prices will increase on scheduled flights, tourism inbound will decrease as prices too expensive. This is a national issue over a planning law to do with infrastructure away from the airport. Made at a time when the M50 had two lanes and toll booths.
The airlines should shut operations in the run up to Christmas and bring it to a head. It sounds like the European courts of justice will be involved soon. Thats how ridiculous it is.
There are more airports in Ireland than Dublin and they all need many more passengers or they’ll fail. If that happens we’ll be left with just Dublin. Time now for action.
@Tom O’Hanlon: and they should fail.
@Alex: so Alex nobody outside your M50 matters eh? Dublin is the biggest kip in Europe!
The Govt will probably bring in a Derogation for the Ukrainian’s & all the record numbers of IPAS applicants arriving here. Certainly isn’t Tourism numbers increasing as for the second year running Tourism numbers along the Western seaboard are way down, majority of hotels in our local area all now IPAS centres. To hear this week that 2 individuals arriving here without passports were “captives of the Irish State” shows how the story is being twisted, Ireland is now seen as No. 1 soft touch in Europe.
Dublin needs a second airport !!
@Sat Nav Maps: It dosen’t. The cap has nothing to do with capacity at the airport. It’s only operating at 50% if of its maximum. It’s to do with external infrastructure planning which is no longer relevant.
@Tom tom: we do we are a joke
Just imagine if the regional Cork, Shannon and Knock airports were link by integrated rail and road service that would relieve Dublin Airport. Ryanair always use these regional airports in Europe so the more if focus on the the regions the better
Eamonn Ryan say no more not interested in his portfolio should be publicly fired
On what planet, in which so-called 1st world country would there be a passenger cap in it’s major airport?.What an effing joke of a country we are.
@Gerry Lamont: it will help reduce carbon emissions
Why would anyone put a seat limit on a country’s main airport ? Sounds like some green ideology.
How do you know which plane MO’L is on?
It’s the one that keeps whineing when the engines are turned off!
Dublin is NOT Ireland and the majority of Irish people DON’T live in Dublin. Enough of this bull and start rebalancing the country.
@Padraig: I think you’ll find the majority do live in Dublin. According to the Dublin Chamber “The population of the Greater Dublin Area is 2.1 million as of 2022 Census, accounting for approximately 40.5% of the total population of Ireland.”
Let’s keep it in line, well done. We don’t want to packed in like sardines and queuing for ages. Forget greedy bollix o’leary and his bullshit merchant.
@Basildon Joe: you just think about yourself there joe going on your holiday to Spain every year. Not about the job losses this will cause directly and indirectly. But wait and see will you still go to benidorm when flights to Alicante are much more expensive
@Patrick Khan: what are you about job losses? There will be no job cuts, the place is thriving.
@Basildon Joe: ryanair have already re designated 8 new aircraft that were destined for Dublin to Italy. That’s a lot of job losses. Charter flights for next summer won’t get slots in Dublin. More jobs that won’t be available in Dublin airport from ground positions to baggage handlers etc etc.
3 red cross members dead. 2 wounded by Russian strikes, if it was Palestine we would have a march on Saturday. Where are the Israeli hostages? Are they free yet? Course not, if there were over a 100irish missing in northern Ireland we would be at war with northern Ireland tomorrow. Hypocritical world, don’t let your lgbts fall off roofs or women have no civil rights at all of course. That would be too extreme to be included of that savage world…
@peter willekens: what has that to do with dublin airport?
They are determined to kill off what’s left of our tourism industry
@Fergus O’Donnell: ass ways this country is ran can do nothing right we don’t have even a rail system going true dublin Airport that goes to show you how backwards we are
Dublin should have a 2nd airport will have two over time
3 other airports that should be used to there maximum in this country outside of Dublin
have your say