Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Nolan for her overview of the industry. She has demonstrated in her work to date as chairperson that she is more than competent to lead the organisation. I have no issue whatsoever in supporting her to become chairperson again and wish her well in that regard.

The issue of pilot training occupied the minds of members of the committee this year when the training college in Waterford collapsed. I do not wish to revisit the minutiae of the discussions we had with the chief executive and his staff. Does Ms Nolan have a view on the issue of bonding to ensure that in the event of a collapse of such organisations in the future students and their families would not be placed in very difficult financial circumstances?

In the course of her address Ms Nolan referred to the IAA's sponsorship of the inaugural aviation awards. Does she have concerns about the state of the Irish aviation sector when none of the three airlines registered in Ireland won an award? I understand international organisations won the awards. I do not expect Ms Nolan to go into too much detail as I am sure the judges' decision is final, but does it raise issues about domestic airlines?

Ms Nolan referred to the foresight of the IAA in investing in Aireon. Are we to assume that the industry generally is heading towards the use of satellites in managing the flow of aircraft? I suppose it is timely when one considers what has happened to aircraft that are missing, with no end in sight. How far have we moved in the direction that all aircraft will be tracked by satellite?

The IAA made an operating profit of €25.7 million and the dividend to shareholders was based on an after tax profit of €4.8 million. Is Ms Nolan in a position to state the after tax profit figure? If not, can it be provided for the committee by the executive of the IAA at some future date?