Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport the reason he has decided to amalgamate the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority into the proposed new National Transport Authority; when the legislation to facilitate this move will be published; his views on the merging of different transport regulatory functions under one agency; if there will be implications for staff at CAR and the IAA from this merger; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39533/09]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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I announced my intention to amalgamate the Commission for Aviation Regulation and the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority with the planned new National Transport Authority on 1st October concurrent with the publication of the Government Statement on Economic Regulation.

The amalgamation of these functions into the planned National Transport Authority will contribute to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Ireland's regulatory environment and bring greater coherence to the regulatory framework for transport, in particular.

Detailed proposals to implement the decision are currently being developed. The decision will obviously have implications for staff of both organisations and I have written to both the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation and the Chairman of the Irish Aviation Authority to assure them that there will be full consultation with both organisations as these proposals are developed.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will conduct a comprehensive audit of Ireland's system for safety oversight of civil aviation early in 2010. I do not propose to publish detailed proposals for the amalgamation in advance of the audit as some recommendations may emerge from the audit that could be implemented in tandem with the legislation that will be necessary to provide for the amalgamation of functions.