Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

9:30 am

Photo of Jerry ButtimerJerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to support the Minister because in fairness, in his letter to us in June, Mr. Jim Gavin of the IAA, made it very clear that "the IAA will conduct continuing oversight of the implementation of the regulation in accordance with the EU regulations." The letter went on to state that: "The proposed amendment mandates the IAA to conduct a review, not later than 12 months after the commencement of the Bill, on the effectiveness of the peer support programmes introduced by Irish airlines." Mr. Gavin is very clear in the letter that his advice is that there would be peer support.

I refer Members to the lived experience and well-being research in Trinity College Dublin, TCD, which specifically investigates and does research on the aviation sector. It highlights the importance of the impact of stress and mental health on performance and flight safety. The Minister of State is right. We are all of the view that we are on the same page. In the context of thethree crews, I know the accepted number of crews according to the European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, varies from five to three. Why can we not go to one? I am just curious to hear that again.

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