Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Sorry, Acting Chairperson, the Minister of State has not responded under any circumstances. Not in our wildest imagination can we believe that the Minister of State has responded. The only thing I know now is that the Minister of State has told us there were consultants involved and that the IAA was involved in the drafting of this legislation. The Department is asking the people we want to regulate to draft the legislation. Let us get serious here. We should have total separation between those who are to be regulated and those who are writing the regulations.

Senator Buttimer referred to section 59 in respect of the advice the IAA will provide to the Minister. That has nothing to do with the legislation, it is after the legislation is passed. The IAA has a role in advising whichever Minister is in power as to various things with respect to aviation. The IAA is the regulatory body for which we are passing legislation through this House. If we cannot satisfy ourselves that there is a clear separation between the IAA and the drafters of the legislation, I want to know who drafted the legislation. If it was in-house people in the Department and there is no aviation expertise, then where are we going?