Oral hearings on new Dublin runway begin today

Oral hearings on the second runway planned for Dublin Airport are due to get underway this morning.

The five-day meeting has been arranged by An Bord Plenála to allow objectors to make submissions on the 3km runway, which would run parallel to the existing one.

Fingal County Council has granted planning permission for the structure, but many local residents are opposed to the expansion, saying it will negatively affect the lives of around 10,000 people.

An Taisce and Green Party leader Trevor Sargent area also among those to have lodged objections to the plan.

Dublin Airport claims the new runway is needed to facilitate future passenger growth.