Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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We are in public session.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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In relation to the correspondence we received from the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Does everyone have a copy of that?

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I got it but I have only scanned it.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I have a query. There seems to be a pattern developing here. The IAA is invited in within 24 hours to the public session of the committee. It says in its correspondence that it has been suggested that the IAA should provide the committee members with a detailed preview. Who suggested that?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I am very happy to discuss any matter. I spoke to the IAA and I said it would be a very good idea if we got an overview of the work that it does. We agreed that the committee would invite the IAA in. However, it is a matter for the committee.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, I would say that-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I would just make the point that-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Sorry, I was just trying to finish a sentence.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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-----the committee in this case would be the joint committee.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, but I noted that it said it had been suggested.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes, it was.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I was curious as to who had put that suggestion to the IAA. My point is that the IAA is due in before this committee within 24 hours. Now-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Not within 24 hours.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is. This was on 5 December and the IAA is due in on 6 December.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Next week, sorry, yes.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, 5 December. The IAA is scheduling this other meeting in Buswells Hotel on 5 December while it is due-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I think again, with respect-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Can I just finish a sentence, please?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Can I make a point? I want to be as helpful as I possibly can, as always, to members. I do not have the correspondence in front of me to confirm what Deputy Munster is saying. I am not reading what the actual letter says.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Right, that is okay.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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It is not a case of-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Chairman suggested to the IAA-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Pardon?

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Chairman had suggested to the IAA that it would have this meeting.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, I said that I would be happy if it would.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The Chairman suggested-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I want to know what the IAA does.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes. The Chairman-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I think that would be really important-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I thought the whole purpose of having the IAA before the committee was to find out what it does. My point is that the Chairman has suggested that the authority have another meeting, outside of the committee, 24 hours before it is due before the Joint Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport to answer questions. If the IAA has another issue that it wants to address, such as how it conducts an oversight of civil aviation, that can be another item added on to the agenda for 6 December.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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To be fair to everybody, I do not have the letter the Deputy is speaking of in front of me.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Right. The Chairman would have got a copy.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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This is not a trial. This is a meeting of the select committee. There is no problem. The only members here are those who are members of the Dáil only. Deputy Munster refers to a letter that was sent to every member of the committee, so that is why it is not on the agenda.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, but-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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For clarity, it only came in today.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The point-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I asked in advance-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy asked me just now-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I asked before we went into public session.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes. I have no problem with the Deputy raising whatever she wants-----

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I said that I would raise it and the Chairman said that he did not have an issue with that.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, I do not but I do not have a copy of it.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We all emailed it. There seems to be a pattern of arranging meetings outside of the public committee meeting. Given that the IAA is scheduled to come in on 6 December, I suggest there is no need for a separate private meeting, an informal meeting or whatever way we want to word it in Buswells Hotel 24 hours earlier. If there are other issues, such as oversight of aviation, etc., we can add that as an extra item on the agenda when the IAA attends this meeting in public session the following day. Is that agreed?

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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No, it is not agreed. We will get other people's opinion on this. In fairness to people who may be watching, for clarity the clerk can have a copy of the letter circulated to everybody.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I received the letter. To be honest, I have only scanned it because I was conscious it was not related to this meeting. However, my understanding is that the IAA is coming in like any other group. The Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, previously came in and Bus Éireann previously had briefings in Buswells. It gives an opportunity to have a more in depth briefing. I have no issue with the IAA doing that. Ultimately, it will be answerable to our committee the following day. I am presuming we can ask any questions we wish when the IAA comes in the following day.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I accept what Deputy Troy is saying. I would have reservations particularly in relation to the meeting that is scheduled on 6 December with the pilots and the way that the IAA had requested, in a very forthright manner, that we furnish it with the folders that the Irish Airline Pilots' Association, IALPA, had sent us. The IAA was quite adamant that it was entitled to the information. When we sought legal advice, as we would have known anyway irrespective of legal advice being sought, we were informed that the IAA had no right to it.

It just seemed reluctant. On that basis, I am fearful that this meeting was arranged 24 hours in advance because of the IAA's resistance to coming before the committee to discuss the pilots' situation.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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The select committee is only part of the overall committee, as I said earlier. This is what we call the elected Dáil Members only, so that other Members who cannot be here to share their views-----

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Regardless of whether we like it, we have no control over who holds a briefing session in Buswells Hotel.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I agree with Deputy Troy.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It was suggested to the IAA and the Chairman has said it was he who suggested to-----

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I did, because I was very happy to get a briefing. It is a briefing, not a meeting.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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However, the Chairman suggested this without speaking to the committee, without first getting our approval.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I think it was discussed here. Let us be very clear about this. The Deputy has made her proposal, which has been properly put before the committee. I do not think Deputy Troy has a problem with it. If anyone has a problem with it, he or she does not have to go. That is it, unless Deputy O'Keeffe wishes to say anything.

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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No comment.