Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

To go back, we are talking about employing a chief executive officer for the Irish Aviation Authority. We do not have anybody in the Department who has aviation expertise to assist in the short-listing of any curriculum vitae that might arrive in applications for the job. We do not have anybody on the State appointments commission that I am aware of who is an aviator who can attest to or test the qualifications of those coming before an interview board.

Can the Minister of State tell me if the Department is going to employ an aviation expert? Are we going to constantly deal with contracted-in people who really have no responsibility to the State at the end of the day? Responsibility lies within the Department. I have a huge concern that we are working our way through this Bill safe in the knowledge that there is no aviation expertise available independent of the IAA that I am aware of. We are putting through legislation for the IAA and its staff seem to be the people who are advising on it. For me, it is flawed the whole way through. I understand that the legislation has been handed to the Minister of State and she has been told to work it through the House, but there is a long-term responsibility.

There is a standing Air Accident Investigation Unit report and it looks to me that the recommendations of that report are just being cast aside and we will continue on the way things were. Four people are dead.