Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My first question is in relation to cabin baggage entitlements. As the cost of taking large baggage on a flight has increased and continues to rise, people have resorted to travelling with only cabin baggage. Any changes in this area will affect cost for most people. Are any changes proposed?

My second question relates to air passengers' rights and safety. In a recent incident on board a plane, a person died during a short haul flight from Dublin to Spain. I have been told that while it is a mandatory requirement that a defibrillator is available on all long haul flights, there is no such requirement in respect of short haul flights. We have previously discussed the issues that can arise in the context of air travel, including lengthy waiting periods in airports and flights of up to six hours. I understand from what I have been told that the availability of a defibrillator on short haul flights is not mandatory. This is an issue we need to tackle urgently. While there is no guarantee in the incident to which I referred earlier that had a defibrillator been available the person's life would have been saved, one should have been available. Will the Minister undertake to have regulations in that regard clarified and updated if necessary?