Written answers

Tuesday, 21 February 2006

9:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Transport the responsibilities of the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of ensuring adequate security regimes for passengers boarding flights at Irish airports; the regulations in relation to airline staff checking passenger passports immediately prior to boarding flights; the action which the Irish Aviation Authority will take on foot of the widespread disregard for such checks by an airline as alleged in a Channel 4 programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6970/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and not the Irish Aviation Authority has overall responsibility for civil aviation security and for overseeing compliance with EU aviation security obligations in the State. The Channel 4 programme did not raise any specific compliance issues in relation to the implementation of security requirements by the airline concerned at airports in the State. The airline concerned is subject to the security requirements of the host state when operating in jurisdictions outside the State.

EU Regulation 2320/2002 obliges airlines to implement baggage reconciliation requirements to ensure that the passenger who checked in baggage for a particular flight is the same passenger who boards the flight concerned. The application of these baggage reconciliation requirements by airlines at airports in each member states is a matter for each state to consider. The Department is following up a number of issues raised by the Channel 4 programme with the airline concerned. It is not the practice on security grounds to comment on the application of aviation security measures by airlines.

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Transport the regulations covering airline pilots working hours and minimum rest periods; the precise manner in which those regulations are enforced; if it is possible for pilots to make confidential complaints regarding breaches of those regulations by the management of an airline; the number of complaints which the Irish Aviation Authority has received in each year since its inception and the outcome in each case; the action which he intends to take on foot of allegations of excessive working hours by pilots in a recent television programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6971/06]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of pilot working hours and rest is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, under the functions conferred on it by the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993, as amended. The IAA has informed my Department that flight time limitations relating to flight crew are required for international aviation under the terms of annex 6 to the Chicago convention, which is one of the annexes delegated to the IAA in the Schedule to the Act. The manner in which the regulations are enforced is a matter for the IAA.

Accordingly, complaints regarding the flight time regulations or breaches thereof should be addressed to the IAA. The authority has informed my Department that it has received very few formal complaints of that nature from individuals, but that representations have been made from time to time by pilot associations. Such enquiries as have been made by individuals concerned the interpretation of existing rules which the IAA dealt with by way of clarification rather than enforcement. The IAA will respect the confidential nature of any complaint when requested. However, if enforcement action were required, then the identity of the complainant might become known in the course of enforcement proceedings.

Legislation is currently being prepared in my Department to implement the European directive on occurrence reporting in civil aviation. That directive provides that member states may opt to establish a confidential reporting system, and the feasibility of establishing such for the whole Irish aviation industry to include operators, air traffic management providers, maintenance and airport personnel is being considered in the process of transposing this directive.

Finally, the IAA advises me that there was no evidence of excessive working hours by pilots in the recent Channel 4 television programme, but that on the contrary, the programme made it clear that pilots were working within their hours.

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