Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his view of his Department being the lead Department engaging with the International Civil Aviation Organisation; if he will set out the deficiencies identified within the Chicago Convention and any steps taken towards its review. [8608/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) was established by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (commonly referred to as the Chicago Convention) which was signed by 52 States in December 1944. ICAO was established as a means to secure international co-operation, the highest possible degree of uniformity in regulations and standards, procedures and organisation regarding civil aviation matters. To date 190 States have become a party to the Chicago Convention, a testament to its continued relevance and the validity of its main goal, being "..that international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically."

While the Chicago Convention itself has remained unchanged since 1944, the 18 Annexes to the Convention which set out the standards and recommended practices for the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation are continually reviewed and updated to keep abreast of advances in technology and developments in aviation.

As regards the lead Department engaging with ICAO, I consider it entirely appropriate that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is the lead Department in the State to engage with ICAO given that ICAO's three primary objectives are to enhance global civil aviation safety, enhance global civil aviation security and foster harmonized and economically viable development of international civil aviation that does not unduly harm the environment. I do not believe there is another more appropriate Department to be tasked with engagement on these objectives.