Seanad debates

Wednesday, 21 September 2022

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

 

10:30 am

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

Section 68, which amends section 38 of the Act of 1993, provides that the first chief executive of the new IAA appointed after the commencement of the section shall be appointed for a period not exceeding seven years and each subsequent chief executive shall be appointed by the Minister after consultation with the directors of the IAA for a period not exceeding seven years. The Minister should have the discretion to appoint the chief executive of the IAA for a period up to but not exceeding seven years. The Bill provides for significant institutional changes to how aviation is regulated in Ireland. It is creating a complex stand-alone aviation regulator. Therefore, it is imperative that the chief executive be appointed for a suitable period that allows for focus on the long-term development of this important regulator. That may require a time horizon longer than five years, that is, up to seven years.As such, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 3i.

Regarding amendment No. 4a, the existing text of section 77 provides that a committee of the House may request the attendance of the chief executive or a relevant officer of the IAA to account for the performance of the authority's functions at any time. Given this, it is a matter for the committee itself to decide how often it wishes to request attendance from the chief executive or a relevant officer. As such, I do not propose to accept amendment No. 4a.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.