Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

Most people considering this Bill will think of major airlines and airports such as Dublin, Cork or Shannon. Those airports must be up-to-date in the type of security provided there to minimise risk. I know advances have been made in the type of machinery used and monitoring, and that will be important. I note the Bill extends to facilities that do not have the capacity to do that, such as smaller aerodromes. Three or four of those listed are in remote locations but one is not. Weston Aerodrome is situated between Lucan and Leixlip and has a sizeable number of movements, up to the levels of Dublin Airport, so it is not an inconsiderable aerodrome.

I have serious concerns about the way Weston Aerodrome operates, the profile of the owner and its non-compliance with just about every rule and regulation in the book. It is located in an area where 80,000 people live. Major international companies sought — it was granted — to divert the way planes flew after the attack on 11 September 2001, and I understand why. Weston Aerodrome is beside the State laboratories where certain materials are kept — I will say no more.

This aerodrome is part of a marketing exercise by a large number of people for the Ryder Cup, which is a major event, so it is not an inconsiderable location. It is licensed for a runway of less than 800 metres on code one. I supplied video evidence to the Irish Aviation Authority showing that it uses an area beyond that designed as a stopway-clearway. It has laid tarmacadam on a total of 14,000 metres and uses or has used areas for which it does not have a licence. It does not have planning permission for buildings on the site. The proprietor has built a hotel and conference centre and ripped up archaeological sites to put in a golf course. He has absolutely no regard for the planning laws. It is advertised as Dublin's second airport with 24-hour cargo accommodation even though only daylight flying is allowed. I am drawing a picture of who we might indemnify. Over the years I have been in and out of, and on the phone to, the Irish Aviation Authority offices. The planning process is completely subverted in Kildare and south Dublin. Warning notices have been issued to the aerodrome with regard to the height of planes.

Three Government Departments, Transport, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Defence, have a regulatory role in this. The Department of Defence has a problem with what Weston Aerodrome does, and is on record as such. It would be unconscionable for this type of facility to be indemnified when it is clearly non-compliant. I hope the provision in section 5 is used to crack down on this as I have no confidence in the Irish Aviation Authority to do so. If the practice at Weston Aerodrome is replicated in any other airport or aerodrome I would have serious concerns about the level of control we can have potentially on this type of facility. Either a blind eye is being turned or there is no intention to make it comply with the licence it has been given. I cannot see the point of having a licence if months go by before the authorities get back to someone who makes a serious complaint that includes giving video evidence to the Irish Aviation Authority, which was gathered by members of the public who sat in a ditch in the freezing weather. It is the role of the Irish Aviation Authority to gather such evidence.

I understand why we need to indemnify. I hope that in a year's time we can charge for that indemnity, as the Bill proposes, but the Minister must take serious note of the rules of compliance and ensure they are fully met. If the laws are broken, the taxpayer should not be asked to indemnify that type of behaviour in a further example of the State not intervening. The State must intervene and use every power available to stop this type of behaviour. It would be one thing if this aerodrome was used for the purpose for which it is licensed, but it is used for much more than is covered by the licence.

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