Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Transport if, in respect of Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 3 May 2006 and the unsatisfactory response of the British authorities to the safety of passengers in the two recent bomb hoax incidents, he has raised the issue of the need for an agreed common EU approach in line with accepted international best practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19519/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The International Civil Aviation Organisation which is concerned with the safe and orderly development of worldwide civil aviation has already adopted standards and recommended practices for the handling of bomb threats to aircraft in flight. Emergency planning responses to particular threats to aircraft are matters for the relevant competent authorities of the State concerned where the incident takes place. I have, as indicated, in my reply to Parliamentary Question 88 of 3 May 2006 written to the UK Secretary of State for Transport about both incidents. I have been advised that the UK Authorities are reviewing the nature of the overall response to such incidents following the recent hoax bomb threats made against the two Irish aircraft which were diverted into Prestwick Airport. I have no plans to raise the question of the adoption of a common EU position for the handling of bomb hoax threats against aircraft with the European Commission.