Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

On behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy McDaid, and their officials, I thank the Senators for their positive contributions to the debate on this important Bill. From those contributions it was clear there is universal support for this important measure. As discussed yesterday, the Warsaw Convention was established in 1929. The new Montreal Convention will update the Warsaw Convention and the Bill will give it the force of law in Ireland. We are updating, modernising and ensuring there is equity in value for the compensation to be paid taking account of various circumstances, including injuries, accidents, deaths, mental distress or otherwise. Senator Browne made a very relevant point in that this legislation will accommodate people in allowing claims to be made in the simplest way, thus reducing the cost and ensuring fairness for all involved including the airlines. As an island nation this legislation is important to our economic growth as international aviation is critical to our future.

I thank the Senators for their positive attitude. I thank Senator Dooley, as spokesperson on the Government side, Senators Wilson and McDowell, and the others who spoke. I particularly thank the officials from the Department of Transport for the excellent work they have done in ensuring the law is modernised to take account of domestic and international circumstances.