DUBLIN, Ireland: Dublin Airport has received a warning for going over its allowed number of passengers.

As part of a rule set by the local planning authority, the airport is only allowed to handle 32 million passengers a year. However, that rule is now under legal and political debate.

Airlines like Ryanair and Aer Lingus want the cap removed. They argue that lifting it would help Ireland's economy and tourism. However, others say that removing the limit would make it harder for Ireland to reduce its carbon emissions.

On Friday, Fingal County Council, the authority responsible for the airport area, said it had issued an enforcement notice to the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). The notice gives the DAA two years to fix the problem and follow the planning rules.

A spokesperson for the council said the two-year period gives the DAA time to apply for permission to allow more passengers, or to take any other steps needed to follow the rules.

When Dublin Airport was allowed to build Terminal 2 and expand Terminal 1 in 2008, one condition was that the airport must not serve more than 32 million passengers in a year.

The council received complaints that this rule was broken in 2023 and 2024. So, the council's planning team launched a formal investigation. The airport was given a chance to explain the situation.

Although the council said it understands that there are "operational complexities," it decided that the airport's explanation was not strong enough to stop further action.

After reviewing all the information, the council concluded that Dublin Airport had broken the planning rules and continues to do so.

As a result, Fingal County Council has officially told Dublin Airport to bring its operations back in line with the 32 million passenger cap within two years.