Results 1,321-1,340 of 5,746 for speaker:Gerard Craughwell

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is the first time I have heard that we have to do it incrementally. We have often-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is not my recollection.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Before we proceed to discuss amendments Nos. 1 and 2, I want to pose a few questions. There has been some interaction outside the House on the Bill's progress. There are a few things that I need to establish before we move any further. I ask the Minister of State to state what level of aviation expertise there is in her Department. Who is the aviation expert advising the Minister?

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Of course it is.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry, but it is relevant.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am terribly sorry. It is clear from the air accident investigation unit, AAIU, report on Rescue 116 that "The Minister for Transport should ensure that the Department has sufficient specialist aviation expertise to enable it to discharge effective oversight of the full range of IAA activities". This Bill is about regulating the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA. I need to know who is the...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: This is pertinent to the Bill.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I thank Senator Buttimer for his input. The visit to Shannon had nothing to do with the-----

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: Precisely.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am sorry but a number of things have happened since we were last in the House discussing the Bill and they need to be cleared up before we go any further. With respect to Senator Buttimer, of course the air traffic control people were excellent. We are separating them out. This is part of what is happening in the Bill. I do not have a problem with what takes place in Shannon. It was...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I want to address the point Senator Buttimer has made. IBEC may have spoken to him this morning and lobbied him but it is not advising the relevant Minister on what it wants to do. It may have input to the Minister but it is not advising the Minister.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: No.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: I am going back to the AAIU report, which states that "The Minister for Transport should ensure that the Department has sufficient specialist aviation expertise to enable it to discharge effective oversight of the full range of IAA activities". This Bill is about oversight of the IAA. Who is the expert in the Department? Who is the aviation expert in the Department advising the Minister?...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: We can accept there is not an aviation expert within the Department right now, and I would be grateful if the Minister of State would confirm that. It is important as the legislation progresses that we are dealing with a Department that does not have the expertise to oversee the organisation for which we are legislating. I would like confirmation of that, in the Minister of State's reply....

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That is fine.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: One of the things that gives us all great confidence when we go to fly is the level of safety that exists in the world of aviation. If one peruses the air accident investigation reports on any air accident one will see that the level of detail that is available is incredible. I mean if a part is replaced on any aircraft that flies then one can trace it all the way to the very machine that...

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: That has not answered the question. It is a clear one. Does the Minister of State have an aviation expert on her staff in the Department of Transport, yes or no?

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: This is not a Commencement matter.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: It is related.

Seanad: Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) (16 Jun 2022)

Gerard Craughwell: No, the Minister of State has not.