COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 14, 2011
HEADED ITEM NO. 16
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE'S COMMENTS ON COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (AERODROME AT BALDONNEL)
REPLY:
Members will be aware that the issue of the Security zone around Casement Aerodrome was the issue of extensive discussion during the adoption of the Development Plan. At the amendments to the Draft Development Plan stage in May 2010 the elected members decided to include the following policy:
Policy EE39A: Casement Aerodrome- Security Consultation Zone
It is the policy of the Council to amend the current Department of Defence Security Zone Restriction around Casement Aerodrome so that it becomes a Security Consultation Zone, within which standard security measures will be applied in line with international best practice at military and civilian aerodromes. The state airports at Dublin, Cork and Shannon operate the highest levels of security. The security measures at Baldonnell should be the same as those imposed at these state airports.
Having considered relevant Motions, the submissions made on this matter including those from the Department, legal advice and the advice of the County Manager in relation to Casement Aerodrome, at the September 2010 meeting it was the decision of the Council to finalise the wording of the relevant revised new policy as follows:
"Policy: Casement Aerodrome – Security Consultation Zone
That it is the policy of South Dublin County Council to seek to amend the Security Zone restriction around Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnell, so that it becomes a Security Consultation Zone, within which standard security measures will be applied in line with international best practice at military and civilian aerodromes. Furthermore, the said issue shall be brought back to this Council within one year of adoption of this Development Plan to be considered by way of variation of the Development Plan when full technical and legal advice is available to the Members.’
The elected members of South Dublin County Council strongly requested that the County Manager pursue the above policy with the Department in a prompt fashion. Accordingly, a letter issued to the Minister for Defence on 21st Setember, a meeting with officials was held on 17th November (at which the members views as expressed at the meeting were outlined), and a reply has been received from the Minister Eamon O’Cuiv, T.D. dated 17th February 2011, (listed under correspondence for todays meeting).
In the letter the Minister states (inter alia) that : “in my capacity as a prescribed body…..I wish to outline my position… it has been Government policy to retain…(Casement)…..exclusively for military purposes…….I do not intend to change that policy.” On Security he states : “The Department is not prepared to amend the security restricted zone……..to a security consultation zone…..” However he does indicate that the Department is prepared to discuss an “agreed protocol” subject to strict conditions including that the “set criteria ..would be adhered to in all circumstances with no possible deviation”, that “discussions would only be conducted between officials of the Department and officials of South Dublin County Council” and that “no third parties would be allowed to participate nor .. be advised of the content of any protocol until it is finalised”.
Given the objective as stated in the Plan the Members should now consider the position as outlined by the Minister and whether discussions should proceed with the Department on a “protocol” subject to the conditions as set out above.