Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to answer all of the queries and I will go into some of the other details after so ask everyone to please bear with me.

I cannotaccept Amendments Nos. 1 and 2. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2, as proposed, are not acceptable. As drafted, they risk infringing on the independence and flexibility of action of the IAA, as regulator, and contain a level of specifics and detail that are not appropriate in primary legislation. However, as Senators are aware, there has been an extensive dialogue with Senators, the IAA and the pilot's union, which is IALPA, on these and other amendments. Having taken the views of the Senators on board, I propose Government amendment No. c4a, which I hope addresses the concerns raised in respect of the establishment of a forum and licenceholders' charter. I understand that the amendment will be discussed in a later group of amendments along with Senator Doherty’s related amendment No. d4a.

With the permission of the Acting Chairperson, I might address some of the questions now in order to give clarity to Senators.