Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy should ask Deputy Cuffe about what he had to say on this issue. There is a commitment in the programme for Government with regard to training the Garda Síochána, and I have raised it with the Garda Commissioner on a number of occasions. At the newly formed Cabinet committee it was agreed that we would re-examine the legislation, particularly the air navigation Acts and the Chicago Convention. When I was Minister for Foreign Affairs I raised the issue of the Chicago Convention. I maintained, and I said it to the US Ambassador at the time, that in the context of al-Qaeda it is in the interests of nation states, particularly the US, that the meagre information that is made available under the Chicago Convention of 1944 should be reviewed. Given the rapid increase in the use of private aircraft across Europe and the world, and indeed Ireland, there should be more information.

With regard to a change of policy on the powers of the gardaí or any other officer other than those officers prescribed by law — a number of designated authorised officers can board airplanes to inspect them for safety under air navigation legislation — the gardaí can board airplanes under the same conditions as they can go into the Deputy's house or mine, that is, they must have a reasonable suspicion that a crime is being committed or they must have a search warrant. There is no change in that respect. However, we are examining possible changes in the air navigation Acts to widen the scope of the type of examinations authorised officers can make.

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