Mr. Michael McGrail:

There is general passporting of traffic and safety within Europe. If a member leaves the European Union, it leaves the passporting approval process.

When the IAA states the separation of commercial air traffic management from the safety regulatory functions will pose a challenge, the process of separation is simple. There will be a need to establish a new company which will take on the air traffic management business. There will be a need to ensure the terms and conditions of all staff will be retained, as the Government wishes. The policy is clear. The challenge will be getting it done in a way that will ensure the separation will run smoothly. Everybody is clear on what has to be done; it is just a question of getting it done.

The IAA wishes to have recorded its condolences to the four families who lost loved ones in the helicopter accident mentioned in the Aerospace Qualified Entity, AQE, report. The report lookis at the current situation and looks forward. It highlights some confusion, as the media reported, although that might be a slightly strong word to use, but there was uncertainty about the roles among a variety of agencies and the report suggests the IAA would assume overall oversight of search and rescue operations. The IAA is working with the Department and would be happy to do so. On the Senator's point, the IAA would need additional resources to ensure it could carry out that role.