Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)

As a member of the Joint Committee on Transport and as a Deputy whose constituency borders Dublin Airport, I welcome this Bill and I congratulate the Minister of State for bringing it before us. I congratulate the management of Aer Lingus and its new CEO, Dermot Mannion, on the purchase of two new Airbus aircraft for long-haul flights. That is a very welcome development in the constituency I represent. Naturally, it will lead to the creation of additional jobs.

From my reading, the Bill is of a technical nature but, nonetheless, it is important and should come into force without delay. Any Bill dealing with safety is obviously of paramount importance and should be dealt with by the House with the utmost seriousness.

The Bill will allow Ireland to ratify certain changes to the international convention which effectively established the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation in 1960. It is not surprising the convention would need to be updated because significant changes have occurred in the air transport and navigation sector in that period, particularly in terms of the growth of the industry, the greater number of aircraft in Europe, the increased number of flights and the increased number of passengers travelling. This growth in aviation is due to the significant growth of the economies of Europe, which makes us all better off, while globalisation has been a further significant factor.

Eurocontrol has a long history and has served Europe well in co-ordinating air traffic for over 40 years. It has 35 member states. Its primary objective is the development of European air traffic management. Eurocontrol develops, co-ordinates and plans the implementation of short, medium and long-term pan-European air traffic management strategies and associated action plans. It partakes in a collective effort that involves national authorities, air navigation service providers, civil and military airspace users, airports, industry, professional organisations and the relevant European institutions.

I hope the increased powers that the revised convention will give to Eurocontrol to assist it in its key role as the co-ordinator of European air traffic control will help to address Europe's worsening air traffic problems. Deputies are familiar with the delays which are often encountered at this country's airports. We have not been helped by our delay in making a decision on the construction of a second terminal at Dublin Airport. Air traffic delays are a tiresome burden for passengers, frustrate the expansion and efficient operation of airlines, lead to additional costs for airlines and create losses for the national economy. I welcome legislation which helps to address such problems by facilitating better and more effective pan-European co-operation in air traffic management.

The unprecedented expansion in the business of low-cost carriers in recent years seems to have made air traffic problems worse. The EU Commission has argued that some air traffic delays can be attributed to the manner in which airspace is organised in Europe. The Commission has argued that the problem is linked to European fragmentation along the lines of national boundaries. Such divisions make air traffic delays and air traffic congestion much worse than they need to be, thereby highlighting the need for better coordination and forward planning, services which Eurocontrol is best placed to provide.

The EU's open skies deal with the US has been the subject of much discussion in recent months. I urge the Minister to make progress on the deal for the renegotiation of the bilateral agreement of the US, which offers tremendous opportunities for Ireland. I do not believe we should lose out to other European states in that regard, although I recognise that Shannon Airport is a particularly sensitive issue that has been discussed for some time. I agree with the Commission statement that Europe cannot retain frontiers in the sky, given that it has abolished them on the ground for free movement and free trade.

One of the most significant changes to the convention that is being made in the revised convention before the House is provided for in the article that allows for the expansion of Eurocontrol's authority to include airport taxiways and runways as well as the areas which are en route. The article also provides for increased research and improved co-ordination of elements of air traffic management. The revised convention before the House will permit greater co-operation between Eurocontrol and other European institutions. It will introduce European air traffic management performance review and target-setting systems. It also strives to create a more efficient decision-making process within the Eurocontrol commission, based on majority voting and the reinforcement of co-operation between civil and military authorities.

Eurocontrol has made important changes to its administrative and deliberative structures by allowing for the establishment of a provisional council, which will be the organisation's central deliberative body. The council will be instrumental in implementing the expanded activities permitted under the revised convention.

While this growth is welcome, it brings certain difficulties for those organisations charged with the responsibility for ensuring that air navigation is carried out safely. The Government clearly indicated the wastage that takes place at present and the inability to get the best from the available airspace and air slots. However, if we ensure the Bill is put in place, we can move to a point where we can get the most from our skies. Despite what is thought about the size and scope of our skies, the number of flight paths is limited. It is important that proper management systems that cross individual state boundaries are utilised in an effective and efficient manner to ensure we continue to grow this sector in line with the growth of economies across Europe and the world, and in particular to allow the continued globalisation to which we all refer.

It is agreed that safety is of paramount importance. Despite the large increase in aircraft movements and passengers travelling, air transport is the safest method of transport. This is highlighted by the carnage on our roads. If the numbers travelling on land are compared with those travelling by air, despite the complexities associated with aviation, air travel is safer than road travel. It is important that the highest standards are maintained to ensure that air travel remains at the top in safety standards.

As an island nation, the dependence on air connectivity is of vital economic importance to Ireland. Therefore, safety standards are essential. Real challenges are potentially emerging as more airlines compete for business. We know of the changes in the market, especially in the past ten years but more specifically in the past three to five years, due to the emergence of the low cost carriers. However, low cost cannot and should not mean low safety standards. We must be clear on this point. The Government has a particular role to ensure through national legislation that safety standards are maintained despite the necessity to force down prices, costs and charges. This is being achieved through the aviation authority, Eurocontrol.

I welcome the Bill and thank the Minister for bringing it to the House.

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