First Minister steps in on airport plan

Northern Ireland's first Minister Peter Robinson has intervened in the motion by the Green Party to request a public inquiry into the runway extension at Belfast City Airport. Mr. Robinson said that the motion, if passed would have placed the North's Environment Minister Sammy Wilson in an "impossible situation", caught between his own planning law and the assembly's decision. 

Mr. Robinson said that the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) had tabled an amendment to the motion which was tabled by the Alliance and Green Parties. Stephen Farry of the Alliance party said "You have to ask yourself why is only one airline, namely Ryanair, at the airport, pushing for this? Why is BMI at best neutral, and why is FlyBee the main user at the airport, actually opposed, and lobbying against the runway extension."

Katie Best the business development director at the airport said that the decision to request a runway extension was based on a "very strong business case", adding that "This extension is not a demand from Ryanair".

If approved the extension will see the runway extended by 590m into Belfast Lough. The airport claim that the extension will create 100 jobs and generate £120m in tourist revenue.