Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the action which will be taken on the Air Corps chemical exposure scandal in view of the receipt of the whistleblower's views on the O'Toole Report. [3606/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a priority for me. In September 2016, I appointed an independent third party to review allegations made in a number of protected disclosures relating to health and safety issues in the Air Corps which were received in late 2015 and early 2016.

The report of the independent third party was received by the Department in June 2017. Although the report found that the regime in the Defence Forces appears to be capable of meeting statutory requirements, the report makes a number of observations; including in relation to documentation, health surveillance, and exposure monitoring.  It also notes that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is the appropriate statutory body to deal with such matters. I sent the report to those who had made disclosures for their views and I am considering the next steps in the process having received those views and in the context of ongoing litigation.

Separately and in parallel to the independent review, following an inspection in 2016, the Air Corps has continued to work with the HSA to improve its health and safety regime. The military authorities have informed me that the HSA has formally noted the considerable progress made to-date by the Defence Forces towards implementation of a safety management system for the control of hazardous substances. Subject to completion of the improvement plan, the HSA investigation is closed. However, it must be noted that in the Air Corps health and safety is a matter of ongoing monitoring, supervision and adjustment.