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

I shall speak to the amendments. The Schedule to the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 sets out the annexes to the Chicago convention on civil aviation for which the IAA has functional responsibility.This group of amendments, or technical amendments, are to provide clarity regarding the functional responsibility of the IAA in respect of annexes 12 and 16. Annexe 12 of the Chicago convention concerns the establishment, maintenance and operation of certain rescue services by ICAO contracting states. Annexe 16 of the Chicago convention concerns environmental protection measures undertaken by ICAO contracting states. The Schedule to the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 sets out the annexes to the Chicago convention on civil aviation for which the IAA has functional responsibility.

Amendments Nos. 3jand 3kamend section 71 of the Bill and, thus, section 78 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 to clarify that the Minister may, by order, assign functional responsibility for part of an annexe to the Chicago convention to the IAA. Amendment No. 7aamends Schedule 2 to the Bill and, consequently, the Schedule to the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 to make it clear that the IAA has functional responsibility for the rescue co-ordination centres and rescue sub-centres aspects of annexe 12 to the convention. In essence, this restates the position originally provided for by SI 171 of 1995 and SI 172 of 1995. Related to this, I intend to bring forward an amendment on Report Stage to amend section 14 to assign an additional objective to AirNav Ireland to make it clear that it has the viresto provide aeronautical rescue co-ordination for search and rescue services.

Amendment No. 7bamends Schedule 2 to the Bill and, consequently, the Schedule to the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 to provide that the IAA has functional responsibility for all aspects of annexe 16 which concern environmental protection measures, with the exception of volume 4 which addresses the carbon offsetting and reduction scheme for international aviation, CORSIA, which will remain with the Minister. Relevant national agencies, including the EPA, engage with my Department in respect of Ireland meeting its obligations under volume 4.