Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I accept that progress has been made in improving health and safety in the Air Corps since these issues were first raised with previous Ministers and with the relevant authorities. I am not seeking comparisons with Australia but am alluding to a process undertaken in that country which has not been undertaken here on foot of the Department becoming aware of a serious scandal. The event to which we are referring is historic and I hope that nobody in the Air Corps today is being exposed to dangerous chemicals in the same way that personnel were exposed in the past for 20 or 30 years. Australia is but one of a number of countries that have identified major flaws in their health and safety regimes. When the Australians identified those flaws, one of the first things they did was to conduct a survey of serving and ex-members to determine their health status so that they could take any steps necessary to address their needs and to prevent any future problems. My question is not related to the O'Toole report or to anything else. It is solely concerned with the health of those who served in the Air Corps who are suffering hugely.

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