Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to have the opportunity to say a few words on this important legislation on the basis that I once learned to fly aeroplanes and also flew in them. I learned to ride motorbikes as well, but I have to confess I did not fly on a motorbike.

It is important legislation. Regulation and health and safety are issues we need to be aware of and have been aware of since the foundation of the State. There was a reason for that. We were there at the beginning of aviation, and we have a right and a duty to continue on that role that we have inherited. We were there at the beginning because we were the last post en routeacross the Atlantic to the United States, and we were the first post in terms of touchdown on the early flights in reverse. Therefore, we need to realise it is important to update our legislation in this regard.

From a health and safety point of view, and I want to emphasise that aspect, our aviation charts and maps and GPS charts need to be updated on a regular basis to ensure that pilots can rely with absolute certainty on what they see before them, and that they do not have to make a split-second decision that could have been made at their leisure had the adequate facilities been before them. One thing I do from time to time, especially in the past six months or so, is to look at the facts surrounding various aviation crashes, the way in which the investigation surrounds the pilot and the way pilot error is sought for as a means of offloading responsibility when the time comes. Very few people know what is like unless they are at the coalface, as we all know in regard to other contexts at the present time. There may not be sufficient time to take appropriate action as a result of inadequate information and I can think of at least one instance where that was the cause of an accident in the fairly recent past. Obviously, if the charts and GPS had been updated, that would not have happened.

We also have to cover the area of regulation, which is important. Regulation in respect of health and safety and operational issues must be borne in mind and kept to the fore at all times. Otherwise, standards will fall and accidents will happen.

We also need to update our governance. The governance in the airline sector all over the globe has changed in recent years, in that various airlines have collapsed and have had to be bailed out by governments. I congratulate our own airlines, Aer Lingus and Ryanair, for the work they have done and the way have managed so far in very difficult circumstances. While I would not always agree with the views of the Ryanair boss as to when international travel should be restored, it is a fact that Ryanair has done a great deal for the development of the aviation industry and for the provision of readily available transport at an economic rate, which was not available 30 or 40 years ago. Similarly, I want to congratulate Aer Lingus for its work and recognise that there are issues and challenges for it now as well. What we need to do is be fair and equal in the way we deal with our air carriers and to try to ensure that a level playing pitch is provided for them.

The present is as good a time as any to refine the legislation affecting the industry. It is the time and place to do it when the number of aircraft in the skies is at its lowest. I congratulate the Minister for bringing the legislation before the House at this moment, although others may have different views on that. People may say that we could postpone this as we have more urgent issues. However, at some stage, everything becomes urgent.

We should not wait until it becomes urgent before we deal with particular issues.

The aviation industry is going through a very testing time. It will require all the encouragement, help and fair play that can be given to it. It will recover again and quickly when the time comes but we still do not know when the Covid threat will pass or if things will ever be the same again. We must realise that we must live with what we have got and ensure that the next generation has something to inherit.

I do not live close to any of the airports but I do live on the flight path of aeroplanes to Dublin Airport. I am conscious of the experiences of people in that constituency in regard to noise. From my experience, windows and doors are the main areas through which the noise comes into the house. They can be insulated or treated with double or treble protection to deflect aircraft noise and it is very successful. There is a huge difference between the double and treble protection, which leaves only the noise from the chimneys and that can also be reduced dramatically. The Minister ought keep those issues in mind. A certain amount of discomfort follows but we have to deal with progress. Progress has been ongoing for years, we have led the field and hopefully will continue to do so.

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