Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to hear the Minister of State's views on putting compellability on a statutory footing. The IALPA position on meetings has validity. The Joint Committee on Health has quarterly meetings with the Minister and HSE. These are to be built into its work programme. Therefore, one knows there is a meeting every quarter. Why is there reluctance to commit to the meetings in the case in question?

I derived great hope from the correspondence we received from Mr. Jim Gavin, particularly on the commitment to fostering the development, maintenance and improvement of aviation safety and supporting the development of a positive aviation-safety culture within the aviation community. That should not be lost. I appreciate that we are all coming to this with the best motivation.

Let us consider the example of the European aviation market and the way it has been transformed, thanks in the main to Mr. O'Leary of Ryanair, which has made flying cheaper predominantly. In this regard, the Leader has rightly spoken about her ability to go up in a helicopter or aeroplane. Maybe I am wrong but I believe our record on air-travel safety stands up. Given that we have opened up air travel, the world is now much smaller place for us as an island nation. The whole issue is that there is a commitment in the context of the aviation authority.

With regard to the licence holders and stakeholders forum, the Minister of State might tease matters out again. To give her and her Department credit, they have moved. Senator Dooley spoke about the path that the legislation took. One would have to give the Minister of State credit in the context of the engagement. I have no issue with IALPA, the IAA or the Department of Transport briefing and engaging with us. I do not have all the information or knowledge. The Acting Chairperson, as a member of the transport committee along with Senator Craughwell and me, will know it is through engagement that you learn. I realise I am digressing-----