Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 464 of 20 April 2010, if he will update Dáil Eireann on the issues raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47924/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Statutory responsibility for the regulation of safety standards of civil aviation in the State has been vested in the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) under the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993. Following a microlight accident near Carnew, Co. Wicklow in September 2007, the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department issued Safety Recommendation (SR) 24 of 2008. This gave rise to the review by the IAA of the regulatory and operational framework of microlight operations in Ireland. The IAA consulted extensively with the National Microlight Association of Ireland (NMAI), other aviation representative bodies and all stakeholders through a public consultation process.

In August 2010, the IAA published new technical requirements for the licensing and operation of microlights. Aeronautical Notice P.17 was issued on the 26th August 2010. The IAA also published new technical requirements to encourage more foreign microlight pilots to visit Ireland on a temporary basis. While the IAA have now completed the review, they will continue to consult with aviation representative bodies, such as the NMAI, to continuously improve safety in aviation in Ireland. The AAIU has informed me that as the required review has been completed, SR 24 of 2008 is considered closed.