Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Defence when the Air Corps began discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority regarding the proposed changes to airspace at Weston that will see Casement Aerodrome cede part of its airspace; the dialogue he had with the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17435/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. The IAA is responsible for regulating all matters relating to Irish civil airspace, operators, aerodromes, airports, pilots and air traffic services therein.

An airspace change proposal was submitted to the IAA by Weston Limited in 2005 that includes the use of instrument navigation aids to assist the arrival and departure of aircraft in accordance with instrument flight rules. Use of these landing aids would result in flight paths that penetrated military airspace. The Irish Aviation Authority convened a group, the Weston action group, to examine the implications of the airspace change proposal. As the Air Corps' main operational aerodrome and military flying airspace is adjacent to Weston and will be affected by the ACP, the IAA invited my Department and the Air Corps to participate in the meetings of the Weston action group to ensure that the levels of safety afforded to, and operational capability of, military aircraft and the aerodrome are not compromised. This remains the sole purpose of my Department's involvement on the Weston action group.

The Weston action group met in October 2005 and continues to meet on a regular basis. My Department and the Air Corps have been actively participating in the group since January 2006 with a view to ensuring that safety and operational capability of the military aircraft and Casement Aerodrome are not compromised. My Department keeps me apprised of developments in this respect. There is no question of my Department or the Air Corps ceding airspace currently designated for military use to Weston Aerodrome. Co-ordination procedures are under development to ensure the safe operations of aircraft operating from Baldonnel and Weston and in the surrounding airspace, if the IAA decides to grant the airspace change proposal.

My principal concern about Weston Aerodrome, and that of the general officer commanding the Air Corps, is the maintenance of safe and functional airspace in which military flight training and air operations can continue on a 24-hour basis. Changes in operations at Weston will require a risk assessment by the Air Corps to ensure that current levels of safety for military air operations are maintained or improved. However, the decision to grant the request by Weston Limited for an air space change is solely within the remit of the Irish Aviation Authority.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Weston Limited invited the Department of Defence to participate in the Weston action group two years ago. Department officials wrote back to the company and declined. They declined because they claimed facilities were being used at Weston that were unauthorised. For example, the stopway-clearway was being used as a runway. The officials stated that against this background, it would be entirely inappropriate for the Department to enter into formal discussions with Weston about agreeing procedures, which might then be seen to legitimise the operation of an unauthorised development and the unauthorised use of a facility.

In July 2005, the High Court issued an order against Weston regarding some of the facilities. The authorities at Weston are now in breach of that order. They were told to take down certain structures within a certain number of months, but they have not done that. Negotiations were refused on the basis that the development was unauthorised and the matter has escalated in that a High Court order has been breached. I do not understand why there was a change of heart.

A report received by the Irish Aviation Authority on the airspace changes proposed by Weston Limited stated that the Department of Defence has been in discussions with the company for the past two years, which is clearly at variance with the reply given by the Minister. As the report also noted that pilots sometimes became confused as to whether they were landing at Baldonnel or Weston and that infringement had taken place, I do not doubt the need to consider this matter from a safety point of view. I take it from the Minister's reply that negotiations between the Department and Weston Limited began last October rather than two years ago. What has changed to instill greater confidence in the Minister and his Department despite the breaching of a High Court order?

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Formal discussions between my Department and Weston Limited have taken place over the past two years but it was not until last October that a formal group was established to consider this specific proposal and the Air Corps have only participated in the process since January.

As regards the proposals currently before the Irish Aviation Authority, the authority will make the ultimate decision on those. Our role is to determine whether safety issues or the operational capability of Irish military aircraft will be compromised. We will make the group in which we participate aware of any interference with safety or operational capability. I doubt that the Irish Aviation Authority would grant permission if the Air Corps was to suspect that safety or our operational capacity could be compromised.

Deputy Catherine Murphy noted various unauthorised developments, which I take to be of a structural nature. I was not aware of the order made by the High Court but these are matters for South Dublin County Council and Kildare County Council. If a specific proposal is made and the Air Corps is asked to participate, it has a moral obligation to do so because it must take safety and operational capacity into account and the best way in which it can make its views known is across the table. However, the Irish Aviation Authority, which is the ultimate deciding authority, has not yet made any decision.