The Dáil has voted by 118 to 28 to pass legislation lifting the cap on passenger numbers at Dublin airport. The Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill will now go to the Seanad where its passage is likely, albeit with some heated debate.The passing of the legislation to end the controversial cap – which was introduced in 2007– will end years of legal wrangling but is unlikely to be the end of the matter. It will solve several pressing problems but has left others to fester.The yearly limit on passengers of 32 million was a condition of planning permission for a second terminal at the airport in 2007. It was an effort to strike a balance between the economic imperative for more air access and the environmental impact of the airport. The later issue has now been effectively sidelined.The economic argument for lifting the cap is a strong one and the move has looked inevitable for some time. Dublin Airport is the gateway for most business and tourist air traffic. A limit on the numbers transiting the airport is thus a limit on economic growth, its opponents have argued. It is also a limit on the ability of airlines to make money, although they argue air fares will fall as a result of more competition.More flights will mean more emission – though these do not count towards Ireland’s national limits. However, simply capping flights was always a somewhat nihilistic approach in this area.A more immediate issue will be increased congestion in the vicinity of the airport and further inconvenience for those living under its flight path. Ultimately the Government has prioritised immediate economic demands over less tangible climate and environmental goals.Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, has promised that the airport will grow in a “sustainable way” and that he will consider an environmental impact assessment being undertaken by An Coimisiún Pleanála before he signs the final order. But the decision is made and as a local minister O’Brien will be aware that this has political consequences, both positive and negative.