Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Browne for raising this issue. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, and I are aware of the general circumstances surrounding the recent hoax bomb scare on a Ryanair aircraft flying from Paris Beauvais to Dublin Airport on 12 April 2006. Ryanair has furnished an initial report to the Department and the airline has also been in touch with the UK Department of Transport in the matter.

I have been advised that the Ryanair investigation into the handling of the incident at Prestwick Airport and the dissemination of information to passengers on board the aircraft is ongoing. As the Senator has stated there were 80 teenagers from St. Leo's secondary school, Carlow, on board the aircraft and the investigation is also examining the question of communications with the parents and guardians of these passengers. As the Senator has done, I too compliment the teachers who accompanied the 80 teenagers on their visit to mainland Europe.

A bomb threat warning on an aircraft is obviously a traumatic occurrence for the passengers and crew. It is totally irresponsible for any person to threaten the safety of any aircraft or airport installation. I encourage the police authorities to vigorously pursue any such threats made by any person against the safety or security of an aircraft in flight or any airport installation.

I hope this event will not deter the teenagers from St. Leo's secondary school from flying on aircraft in the future. I have been informed that during the incident Ryanair provided refreshments for the passengers on the flight after they had been interviewed by police at Prestwick Airport. I understand that Ryanair also provided telephone facilities for passengers, arranged for hotel accommodation for some passengers as well as making alternative surface transport arrangements for passengers who missed connections at Dublin Airport because of the emergency.

Given that the bomb threat warning was detected by the crew while the aircraft was flying within UK airspace, it was a matter for the UK authorities to implement their contingency planning arrangements to address the emergency on the Ryanair aircraft. It is vital that all responding agencies discharge their responsibilities and that the threat, real or otherwise, is addressed effectively and efficiently in accordance with approved procedures. I understand the UK authorities are reviewing the handling arrangements for this emergency.

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, has written to Mr. Alistair Darling, MP, UK Secretary of State for Transport, concerning the handling of the incident, the fact that the Ryanair aircraft was required to fly to Prestwick Airport when there were other airports in close proximity and that passengers and crew were not allowed to disembark from the aircraft for over two hours upon arriving at Prestwick Airport. We await the response.

Senator Browne asked what we have learned. The Minister has asked the national civil aviation security committee to establish if there are any lessons to be learned in so far as emergency planning procedures for aviation in the State are concerned. The committee will meet shortly. The committee which is chaired by a senior official from the Department of Transport comprises representatives of Departments, Dublin Airport Authority, airlines, the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces, An Post, Customs and Excise, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Irish Airline Pilots Association. Needless to say we are anxious to hear from the UK authorities, Ryanair and the Irish Aviation Authority who will establish what lessons are to be learned.