Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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656. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2014 internal Air Corps report was made available to the independent third party appointed to investigate protected disclosures regarding health and safety issues at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25557/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I indicated to the Deputy in my letter of 17 May 2017, an internal report was compiled by the Air Corps in 2014. The report was compiled at the request of the State Claims Agency in relation to a particular litigation case and as such is litigation privileged.

In line with the terms of reference for the Independent Review into alleged failings of the Air Corps in the area of Health and Safety with regard to the use of toxic chemicals, the Reviewer has been provided with any documentation requested. In addition, I have arranged for additional material provided to me by those that made the disclosures to be made available to the Reviewer, based on legal advice.

Once a final review is to hand, I will determine any further steps required and ensure that all recommendations will be acted upon to ensure the safety of the men and women of the Air Corps.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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657. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he or his predecessor were provided with the 2014 internal Air Corps report on health and safety issues at Casement Aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25558/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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658. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if his Department or the military authorities have provided the reason Air Corps inspection reports carried out by Forbairt in the 1990s have gone missing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25559/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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659. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the 2014 internal Air Corps report on health and safety issues at Casement Aerodrome prompted a review of health and safety management at the aerodrome at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25560/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 to 659, inclusive, together.

The position with regard to these reports is as set out in my letter to the Deputy dated 17 May 2017. As outlined in my letter, the internal report was compiled in relation to a litigation case.

The Deputy will be aware that during 2016 the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) conducted inspections at the Air Corps premises at Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel on three occasions, following which the HSA issued its Report of Inspection to the Air Corps. In late 2016, the Air Corps wrote to the HSA outlining its proposed improvement plan and indicating that the Air Corps is fully committed to implementing the improved safety measures to ensure risks are as low as reasonably practicable.

This improvement plan is being conducted over eight phases. The military authorities have advised me that six of the eight phases have now been fully completed and a further phase is progressing well and will be completed shortly. The final phase is a continuous ongoing process.