Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Excuse the pun but without doubt the Acting Chairperson is flying through the amendments. I would not want Senators Craughwell and Boylan to think that I have not taken their points seriously. I back what they have said on the basis that we have all received the emails and met the people concerned. Maybe "disharmony" is a mild word to use but things need to be corrected.

I wish to mention something that has not been so far. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the pilots and air traffic controllers for ensuring we have an outstanding safety record in this country. In our everyday lives we probably do not realise or understand the significance of their jobs and the fact that their work is unlike all other work. Everyone who gets on a plane rely on them for their lives. My family loves to fly but I do not. I am not a good flyer but pilots and air traffic controllers repeatedly give me the courage to board planes.

I have been reassured by what the Minister of State has said and trust that her words have meat on the bone. She has given a lot of commitments. Things are happening and are going to happen but without doubt progress needs to happen quickly so that people are happy. Pilots, air traffic controllers and anybody involved in the aviation industry need to be happy and content in their jobs. They must feel free to say what they need to say, report what they need to report and involve themselves in discussions with the IAA or anybody else. I respect the fact that Senators Craughwell and Boylan are entitled to press the amendment. However, I am happy with the Minister of State, as she has clearly stated, what is going to happen but we should not hang about and I am satisfied that things are happening.