Written answers

Thursday, 4 April 2019

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Airport Security

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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307. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an executive summary of the key findings made by a recent external oversight audit conducted on the role of the Irish Aviation Authority as competent authority for aviation security here will be made publicly available; if he has been provided with a briefing on the matter; his views on the matter; when the summary will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15993/19]

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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308. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the newly enhanced security arrangements introduced at airports on 30 January 2019 in relation to the requirement of airport police and officials of the Revenue Commissioners to be screened each time while passing between landside to airside also apply equally to members of the US transportation security staff stationed at airports here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15994/19]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together.

The principal regulation in Europe for setting out the standards for civil aviation security is Regulation (EC) 300/2008, and Ireland is required to adhere to the baseline requirements laid out in this Regulation, including a requirement that: “All persons other than passengers, together with their items carried, shall be screened upon entering critical parts of security restricted areas in order to prevent prohibited articles from being introduced into these parts.”

As such, all categories of persons are subject to security screening. Exemptions from screening are limited, and they do not apply to personnel from the US Transportation Administration stationed at airports in Ireland.

As regards the reference to audit findings, I assume the Deputy is referring to a recent European Commission inspection of the Irish Aviation Authority, which is the Appropriate Authority in the State under EC Regulation No 300/2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation security. The Deputy will understand that this report is classified and available only to relevant parties who have the appropriate security clearance. I am not able to comment any further on the contents of that report or its findings.

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