Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We can accept there is not an aviation expert within the Department right now, and I would be grateful if the Minister of State would confirm that. It is important as the legislation progresses that we are dealing with a Department that does not have the expertise to oversee the organisation for which we are legislating. I would like confirmation of that, in the Minister of State's reply. I too have met representatives of the IAA and IALPA. I have spoken to several others, many of whom have raised with me the concerns that I have raised this morning. It is rather odd that we are legislating here for a Department that does not have an expert in the area for which we are legislating.

I agree with Senator Dooley's point that we should have proper processes and auditing in place but the people to do that are surely aviation experts. We find ourselves at odds with the Department and with the Minister of State in parts of this legislation because we have been advised by expert aviators; the people who fly the aircraft. I want to now when I board an aircraft in Dublin Airport that I have a good chance of arriving where I want to go. I want strong legislation. This legislation is strong. We are down to a number of small areas that are delaying this legislation. However, Senator Boylan made the point that later on we will discuss a Government amendment which is close to section 59 which we are now discussing. I will be pressing this amendment when the time comes because I believe it encompasses everything the expert pilots want. There is no expert from the Department who can tell me that what the pilots want is wrong. It is the experts who fly the aircraft-----