Latest news with #DAA
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Dublin Airport ‘outperformed' financial forecasts since 2022, says watchdog
Dublin Airport has largely outperformed the aviation watchdog's financial expectations since 2022, but has undershot its capital expenditure forecasts due to planning delays, according to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). On Tuesday, the regulator opened a two-month public consultation that will inform its decision on the new maximum charge that airlines will have to pay to operate at Dublin Airport, which is operated by State-owned DAA . It comes in advance of the watchdog's decision, due next year, on the new maximum level of airport charges for the following four years, beginning on January 1st, 2027. Since the last determination was made in 2022, Dublin Airport has 'markedly outperformed' forecast commercial revenues, largely due to stronger-than-expected passenger growth, the IAA said. READ MORE The watchdog had forecast traffic to reach 31.7 million in 2023 and 33.6 million in 2024. However, some 33.5 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport in 2023, followed by 34.6 million in 2024. [ DAA lands near €300m profit despite passenger cap limitations Opens in new window ] The IAA said it will have to consider what methodologies and data sources it uses to forecast future traffic in advance of the 2026 decision on airport charges. However, the watchdog said that Dublin Airport's capital expenditure has been 'well below' the forecast it made in 2022. This is due to certain 'capacity-enhancing and passenger experience-related projects' being 'held up in the planning process' as part of the airport's infrastructure application. It will be the first time that the IAA has made this determination after the Commission for Aviation Regulation, which previously had responsibility for the decision, was merged into the IAA in 2023. The watchdog said that the 'key objective' of the decision on a new maximum airport charge 'will be to promote and protect the interests of current and future airport users'.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Hepatitis services must be scaled up, included in essential health packages: WHO official
New Delhi: Hepatitis testing and treatment services must be scaled up and decentralised to primary care, and services related to the infection should be embedded within essential health packages, Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia, said on Monday. Speaking on World Hepatitis Day , which is observed on July 28 every year, Boehme said hepatitis must prioritise responses with maternal and child health, among others, and work towards reducing the toll of liver cancer due to hepatitis B and hepatitis C . "We have the tools to prevent these infections: safe and effective hepatitis B vaccines, affordable diagnostics, highly effective hepatitis B medicines, and the game-changing hepatitis C direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medicines that cure the infection," she said. "However, problems persist with the complexity and fragmentation in service delivery, lack of services at primary healthcare clinics, poor uptake of services, out-of-pocket expenses, limited awareness, and stigma," Boehme added. World Hepatitis Day raises awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and liver cancer. It is observed on the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus. This year, the theme 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down' calls for urgent action to dismantle the financial, social and systemic barriers, including the stigma attached to the infection, that stand in the way of hepatitis elimination and liver cancer prevention . Boehme said, "In our WHO South-East Asia region, viral hepatitis continues to cause needless suffering, silently leading to liver disease, cancer, and hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year." Across the region, an estimated 61 million people live with hepatitis B, and 9 million with hepatitis C. "Our region bears one of the highest burdens of chronic viral hepatitis globally, yet most people living with the disease remain undiagnosed and untreated," she said. She said every year, over 2,60,000 lives are lost, many due to preventable complications of hepatitis and one of the most devastating outcomes is liver cancer, because of untreated hepatitis B and C infections. "With limited access to early diagnosis and treatment, most liver cancer cases in our region are detected late, when curative options are no longer viable," Boehme said. She said hepatitis testing and treatment services must be "scaled up, decentralised to primary care", and guidelines simplified, to reduce the toll of liver cancer due to hepatitis B and C. "We must embed hepatitis services within essential health packages, leverage primary health care platforms, and align responses with maternal and child health, HIV, STIs, TB, non-communicable diseases, blood safety, infection prevention and control, occupational health and universal health coverage efforts. "We have to prioritise hepatitis B birth-dose and completion of the vaccination schedule, integrated safe motherhood services, harm reduction services, and community-based outreach to close the equity gap," she said. Boehme said progress was possible and countries across our region are innovating, including adopting simplified testing and treatment service models, integrating hepatitis as part of essential services and under social health insurance coverage. "These efforts need to be scaled and sustained with strong political will and investment. Together, let's break it down by removing the complexity, ending the silence, and delivering on our promise to eliminate hepatitis by 2030," she said.
Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Planning ruling on Dublin Airport ramps sends wrong message
The planning authorities have their hands full with Dublin Airport . Between passenger caps and night flights, they have enough to be getting on with, but added to the mix is a Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) plan to knock down the now unused spiral ramps for cars next to Terminal 1. On Wednesday An Coimisiún Pleanála turned down DAA's appeal to demolish the ramps . Doing so 'would diminish the visual amenity on approach to T1 and expose the crude architectural detailing of the existing structures to the rear of the spirals, including the prominent architectural elements of the energy centre screened by the spiral car park ramps and as such would erode the character of the area', the commission said. Please. READ MORE This is not an application to demolish something like a block of Georgian buildings in the city centre. The character of the area around Terminal 1 has changed dramatically since it was built in 1972. What character it has now is that of a hotchpotch of buildings and walkways built at different times in an effort to keep a rapidly expanding airport fit for purpose. It has little resemblance to what was a beautiful, and not always full, building in the 1970s and 1980s. [ Planners just cannot win at Dublin Airport Opens in new window ] The reality is the airport is a key part of the State's infrastructure. It is bursting at the seams as it is, and has to always be in position to evolve to match the changing demands of air travel. This is a much different issue to the likes of the 32 million passenger cap. The cap has been in place since 2007. It was only in the last 18 months or so that it has become an issue, with DAA and airlines railing against a rule in place for almost two decades. An Coimisiún Pleanála sends a very clear message to any owner or manager of a large development in Ireland with this ruling: don't build anything interesting. Don't seek a memorable design or anything that might be architecturally notable. Build something as boring and generic as possible. Think Hawkins House more than Terminal 1. It might be the only way you will be allowed replace it when it has reached the end of its functional lifespan in a few decades.
Fashion Value Chain
6 days ago
- Health
- Fashion Value Chain
Why More Patients Are Choosing This Game-Changing Hip Replacement
For over three years, a chemical engineer in his early 50s, working in Malaysia, lived with pain that gradually stole his mobility, independence, and peace of mind. Every step reminded him of what he had lost – long walks, work trips, even simple tasks like tying his shoelaces. His limp in the right leg wasn't just physical; it weighed heavily on his spirit too. Dr. Narayan Hulse – A leading orthopaedic surgeon specializing in robotic joint replacement Determined to find a solution, he consulted multiple surgeons in Delhi and Mumbai, but none could offer lasting relief. Doctors told him he had Avascular Necrosis (AVN) – a condition that cuts off blood supply to the hip bone, causing it to weaken and collapse. His problems began after a COVID-19 infection, and though he underwent two surgeries in Mumbai, neither brought relief. As an engineer, he believed in science and precision. He had done his research. He wasn't afraid of surgery – but he was tired of failure. Then, he came across a therapy he hadn't heard much about before: Robotic Direct Anterior Hip Replacement (DAA). That decision changed everything. A Modern Twist to a Classic Surgery Total hip replacement isn't new. It has helped millions walk again. But what's different about the Robotic Direct Anterior Approach is how it's done – and what it avoids. Most traditional hip replacements access the joint from the back (posterior) or side (lateral), often cutting through or detaching essential muscles. This could lead to more pain, a longer recovery, and a higher risk of dislocation. With the DAA technique, the surgeon enters from the front of the hip, sliding between muscles rather than cutting through them. This muscle-sparing approach, combined with robotic guidance, makes the surgery less invasive, highly precise, and allows for faster healing. It is becoming a preferred approach worldwide for these reasons. Precision Meets Recovery: The Power of Robotic Assistance Robotic technology does not replace the surgeon – it enhances the surgeon's accuracy. Before surgery, a 3D model of the patient's hip is created. This helps the surgeon decide the exact size, position, and angle of the implant needed. During the operation, the robot provides real-time feedback, ensuring the implant is placed exactly where it should be. This minimizes errors such as leg length mismatch and poor alignment – common concerns in traditional surgeries. The Engineers Turnaround For our 53-year-old patient, the first robotic DAA surgery on his left hip involved an incision of just about 8 cm – less than half the size of traditional cuts. Because no major muscles were cut, he was able to stand and walk with support on the very same day. Four months later, his second hip was replaced using the same method. His recovery was smooth – no pain, no limping, no complications. 'After living with discomfort for so long, I couldn't believe how quickly I was able to move again,' he said. 'This therapy didn't just fix my hips – it gave me back the rhythm of my life.' What Makes Robotic DAA Therapy Stand Out Faster Recovery with Less Pain: Since no major muscles are cut, your body heals faster and with less discomfort. Smaller Incision, Less Scarring: The 8 cm cut means minimal skin and tissue damage. Better Accuracy with Robotic Help: The robot helps the surgeon position the new joint perfectly. Walk Sooner: Most patients can walk with support within hours of surgery. Balanced Leg Length: Robotic precision ensures both legs are equal in length – avoiding limping. Lasting Results: Accurate implant positioning improves durability and lowers the chance of needing revision surgery. Expert Insight Dr. Narayan Hulse, a leading orthopedic surgeon specializing in robotic joint replacement, explains, 'Robotic DAA therapy combines the best of both worlds – a minimally invasive front-access approach and the unmatched precision of robotic technology. The result is a safer, faster, and more natural recovery for patients. However, surgeons should train themselves properly and hospitals should acquire the required technology and instrumentation to provide this service to needy patients.' The Takeaway This isn't just about a new kind of surgery – it's about a new kind of life after surgery. For patients living with AVN, arthritis, or chronic hip pain, Robotic DAA Hip Replacement therapy offers not just hope but a real, science-backed solution. If walking has become a struggle and pain your new normal, know that you have options. Thanks to advancements like Robotic DAA, those options are better, faster, and more reliable than ever before. If you or a loved one suffers from chronic hip pain, consult an orthopedic specialist to learn if Robotic DAA Hip Replacement is right for you.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
An Coimisiún Pleanála rejects DAA plan to demolish spiral ramps at Dublin Airport
Concrete finish of ramps built in 1972 reflects a distinctive architectural look An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) has refused planning permission to DAA, the operator of Dublin Airport, to demolish the spiral parking ramps on 'an extremely valuable site' at the airport. The decision upholds a planning refusal issued by Fingal Co Council earlier this year. In its decision, ACP concluded that the spiral ramps are part of the architectural heritage of Dublin Airport and form part of the existing approach to Dublin Airport's T1. ACP found that the demolition of the ramps 'would diminish the visual amenity on approach to T1 and expose the crude architectural detailing of the existing structures to the rear of the spirals, including the prominent architectural elements of the energy centre currently screened by the spiral car park ramps and as such would erode the character of the area.' The commission also pointed out that the spirals were constructed as part of the terminal in 1972 and their concrete finish reflects a distinctive architectural look, typical of the brutalist style. The commission stated that, notwithstanding the fact that the spirals were not a protected structure, they are of technical and architectural merit 'by virtue of their brutalist design, associated concrete construction and their unique architectural form and shape which reflect a distinctive feature adjacent to the T1 building.' The order stated that therefore, in the absence of evidence and appropriate rationale or justification, the proposed demolition of the spiral ramps is considered contrary to policies in the Fingal County Development Plan relating to the protection of architectural heritage. In its appeal, DAA chief commercial and development officer Vincent Harrison said it considers that 'the removal of redundant, deteriorating structures' is a strategic part of unlocking future airport development potential. Mr Harrison described the application site as 'an extremely valuable site, particularly in the context of a limited and finite land resource'. Yesterday, a DAA spokesman said: 'We are surprised and disappointed by ACP's decision as the spiral ramps were not identified as significant heritage assets in previous architectural reviews or national surveys. 'The spiral ramps have not been in use for many years and their structural condition has deteriorated over time. 'Removing them was part of our plan to enhance the airport's infrastructure and ensure the highest standards of safety and efficiency for all our passengers and employees. 'We will review the decision in detail and consider next steps.'
