Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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8. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether protected disclosures in which it is alleged that health and safety inspection reports were destroyed as part of a cover-up within the Air Corps were made in good faith; his further views on whether the motivation of the persons that submitted these disclosures is for the well being of members of the Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12251/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I treat all correspondence received in relation to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 seriously and examine the issue based on the substance of the matter not on questions of motivation. 

In relation to allegations of destruction of reports, I requested a report from the Chief of Staff on the actions taken on foot of the allegation. He informed me that the officer named met with the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps. The officer concerned has refuted the allegations made and it should further be noted that documents referred to were not military documents, nor did they carry any military security classification.

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.

I sent the report of the independent third party to those who had made disclosures for their views. I am considering the next steps in the process having received the views of those who made disclosures and in the context of ongoing litigation.  Given that context, I have requested further legal advice in relation to the matter, before deciding on the next steps in the process.