Republican politicians have called for action by the Northern Ireland Planning Service - and the DUP Minister responsible - on apparent failures to enforce airport seat limits in east Belfast.

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey and his party colleague, East Belfast representative Niall Ó Donnghaile, have called upon the Stormont Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, to formally respond to the revelation that planners have failed to enforce the two million seat sale limit at George Best Belfast City Airport for almost a year.

They made the call after the information was disclosed at last week's Environment Committee meeting in the City hall.

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It was also revealed that planners had failed to investigate whether late night flights at the airport were down to legitimately acceptable reasons.

Alex Maskey MLA said: "The admission by senior planners that they have not enforced the two million seat sale limit at the airport is disgraceful and is a typical example of the planners here failing to enforce policy. "

Tackling the DUP Minister, he continued: "The Minister must now make clear his position on this matter and what action he intends to take to deal with these failings."

Also commenting, Niall Ó Donnghaile said: "There has already been much controversy around the airport, added to by the number of late night flights; an issue which is causing great distress to many residents in south and east Belfast.

"I would echo the all by my colleague Alex Maskey for the Minister to make his position clear on these issues and to quickly state what action he intends to take to rectify the situation."

(BMcC/GK)