Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The health and well-being of the men and women in the Air Corps is an absolute priority for me and the Government. While I cannot comment on the details or circumstances of individual cases, the Department of Defence is aware of a matter that was recently settled by mutual agreement between the parties involved and that the State did not seek to restrict the disclosure of the terms of the settlement.

An independent reviewer was appointed in 2016 to examine disclosures relating to people's exposure to chemical and toxic substances while working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel. The report of the independent reviewer noted that the Health and Safety Authority was the appropriate statutory body to deal with such allegations. The State Claims Agency is currently managing a number of claims for personal injuries relating to alleged exposure to chemical and toxic substances that people suffered while working in the Air Corps. There is ongoing engagement with the State Claims Agency in that context. As a result, it would not be appropriate to comment any further on the matter. The Minister for Defence can give further information about the matter directly to the Deputy.

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