Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad that this Bill has reached Second Stage in the Dáil. The proposed provisions of the Bill were the subject of prelegislative scrutiny in the last Dáil. I am aware that the relevant stakeholders are anxious to have the Bill enacted as soon as possible. This Bill is a reforming one, as has been said, and is a consequence of the national aviation policy, published in 2015, which included a commitment to restructure the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation. The Bill takes into account developments in the EU and international best practice. In addition to this, an independent review of the Irish regulatory regime in respect of airport charges was conducted and concluded in 2017. Subsequently, in September 2017, a national policy statement on the review of airport charges was published. This made the case for the reform of aviation regulation as well.

The Bill establishes a single regulator for safety, security and economic regulation, as well as consumer protection, to be known as the Irish Aviation Authority. In addition, the Bill separates out for-profit air navigation services into a new commercial State company to be known as the Irish air navigation service. The Bill, therefore, is overdue and reflects ongoing developments in aviation regulation practices internationally, as the Minister of State has said.

I would like to raise some general issues concerning aviation. Because of Covid-19 and restrictions on international travel, the Irish aviation sector and our airlines are experiencing serious difficulties. These difficulties are outlined in the PwC Ireland report on the 2021 outlook for the aviation industry, published last month. Irish aviation employees have taken significant pay cuts and others have been the subject of involuntary redundancies. Many are on the PUP or have been put on the employment wage subsidy scheme. I am aware that Aer Lingus employees have faced enormous difficulties in claiming social welfare benefits due to problems in getting forms signed in the airline. The PUP and the employment wage subsidy scheme must be extended for these employees for as long as the crisis continues. These employees also need an extension of mortgage breaks for another 12 months, without impacting on their credit worthiness. I would also argue that the Government must consider providing meaningful financial support for our indigenous airlines in order to avoid structural collapse. Other national governments have done this, as we have heard, so why can we not do this here in Ireland?

There is also the ongoing matter of Ryanair giving refunds to passengers who booked flights and paid for them, only to have them cancelled due to Covid-19. I have heard Michael O'Leary of Ryanair state on many occasions that all refunds have been paid, yet a number of constituents are in touch with me to say they are still awaiting refunds. This is also causing problems for travel agents. Something is not adding up here and I am not accusing anybody of anything but I would just like to know the position, given the conflicting statements. Can the Minister of State get onto the Commission for Aviation Regulation and insist that it make the airline refund passengers and enforce the EU regulation on this matter?

Aircraft noise in the vicinity of Dublin Airport has also been a concern for many of my constituents but it is not at the moment. I am aware that Fingal County Council has established the aircraft noise competent authority. It has a mandate to assess current and predicted future levels of aircraft noise at Dublin Airport, including noise assessments of future planning applications for development at the airport. I suggest that the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks needs to examine the role of this competent authority, given that it is relatively new, to see how it is functioning. I would also like to support the calls of previous speakers to ensure that the planning issues arising from the proposed new runway are dealt with so that residents have an input to the system.

I want to draw the attention of the Minister of State to plans by the Dublin Airport Authority to install a new drop-off and pick-up zone at Dublin Airport. This is not a good idea and these plans should be scrapped.

I also wish to draw the attention of the Minister of State to the concerns of air traffic controllers employed by the Irish Aviation Authority at Dublin Airport on their superannuation scheme. A submission has been made to the Minister in accordance with section 41 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993. I hope the Minister of State can look at this submission favourably and come to a decision as soon as possible.

I hope that this Bill has a speedy passage through both Houses. The detailed provisions of the Bill can be thrashed out on Committee and Report Stages. There will not be too many problems in dealing with the provisions of the Bill as that legislative process continues.

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