Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 6, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following: “ “CAR“ means the Commission for Aviation Regulation;”.

I wish to speak on amendment No. 7 to delete Fingal County Council and substitute the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation. Many of us do not believe that Fingal County Council is the appropriate authority to carry out this function. We all believe it was chosen in a hurry because the Minister had left it too late to bring in a competent authority on noise regulation and as a result, the deadline was missed by the time he realised that the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, would not be allowed to carry out the function because it failed the independence test. However, I am surprised that Fingal County Council passed the independence test given that it is paid rates by the airport and relies on the airport for part of its rates. It is high time that we move away from having bodies regulate entities when they rely on those same entities for their income. It is the same with the IAA and safety regulation, although apparently legislation is being introduced to break up the IAA for that very reason. The Minister might correct me if I am wrong.

If it is not appropriate in the case of the IAA and civil aviation regulation, why should it be allowed in the case of Fingal County Council? Many Deputies are of this opinion, as are the residents who do not have any confidence in Fingal County Council overseeing matters because it relies on the airport for funds. It does not inspire confidence in anybody. The thinking is very much that it was a rush job by the Minister, and an 11th hour decision taken on his behalf. That is the very reason why it should be replaced with the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation.