Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020; the steps being taken to progress the Bill; the anticipated timetable for progression of the Bill; his expectation as to when it will be enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14293/21]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 was published in November last year and completed Second Stage in the Dáil in February. It is expected to progress to Committee Stage soon - for consideration by the Select Committee on Transport and Communications Networks.

The Bill  is a priority piece of reforming legislation, which I hope will move through the  remainder of the legislative process quickly.

The Bill provides for the proposed institutional reforms that will create a single national aviation regulator responsible for safety, security and economic regulation (including consumer affairs) by combining the regulatory functions of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and the Commission for Aviation Regulation.  It will also separate out the for-profit air traffic control services functions of the IAA and place them in a newly formed commercial semi-state company, the Irish Air Navigation Service.  Importantly, in the context of the structural changes required, it guarantees the terms and conditions of all current staff.

The Bill seeks to modernise and strengthen the regulation and oversight of the Irish aviation industry in order to secure - for the long term - Ireland's position as global leader in aviation. It also advances and protects consumer interests.  I believe this Bill lends itself to broad, cross-party support.