Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

An important point is around removing the fear to report. It is critical that any licence holder, pilot or air traffic controller who spots something that concerns them in terms of safety has to be able to report it without fear of coming under scrutiny or of it interfering with his or her job prospects because he or she has to go through his or her airline. That is crucial.

If such people make that report, they are also entitled to know they will get a clear response that will give them the assurance that when they are flying or carrying out their duties as a licence holder, they are doing so with the clarifications they sought from the IAA. That is not the current situation. When pilots and licence holders seek clarifications, they are left wanting in terms of answers. When they go to regulators outside the jurisdiction, they are able to get clear answers, but that is no comfort for them when they fly as a licence holder under the IAA.

Our amendments are sensible and come from people who are at the coalface and see the need for this. They need to know that underpinning the legislation is the right to report concerns and to get a response and clarification on those concerns.