Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I must deal with an urgent matter..

The two captains and I probably have 100 years' experience as accountable manager and so on. During my 24 or 25 years in aviation at accountable manager level, which is the most senior and responsible level in aviation because one is personally accountable for the service and looking after passengers and safety, our country has been incredibly well served by the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, and the Commission for Aviation Regulation, CAR. They are top-notch and the best in the world. I say that as a person on the other side of the fence who has been rightly challenged from time to time by those organisations. Their level of integrity and professionalism goes far beyond the call of duty. That should not be undermined and I know it to be true at first hand.

As the witnesses said, the IAA deals with safety and regulatory issues and both bodies work under European regulations. Is the IAA fully satisfied that Ryanair is fully compliant and has a strong safety performance from a European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, point of view? Has it no concerns and does it believe that Ryanair operates a world-class service from a safety point of view? That issue has been raised on occasion in the media. Has the IAA experience of issues with regard to full-time versus contracted pilots from a safety perspective?

I am familiar with Regulation (EC) 261/2004. One its key areas is the necessity of informing passengers. Is the commissioner satisfied by how passengers were informed? I think she is not. It appears to have been a reactionary situation. The CAR was not made aware of it in advance and, therefore, is fighting against the wind and a little bit blind because it was not sure what was happening. The commissioner stated that she became aware of much of the issue through the media and social media, which is not the best practice one would expect.

The commissioner said in some instances she had to challenge Ryanair on the application of regulations. How satisfied is she with its policy and engagement with passengers generally and specifically in respect of the matter we are dealing with today? What is her sense of the current level of co-operation of Ryanair?

What has been learned from this? How does Ms Mannion perceive the commission, the airline and passengers' rights in the future as a result of this experience?