Written answers

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Air Safety

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action that can be taken to prevent the hijacking of aircraft and passengers en route between two EU states. [29217/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The goal of the global aviation security system is to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference including, inter alia, hijackings. The specialised UN agency, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) formulates and adopts Standards and Recommended Practices to prevent and suppress all acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation throughout the world and these are set out in Annex 17 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as the Chicago Convention).

In order to protect persons and goods within the European Union, EU Regulation 300 of 2008 sets out to prevent acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation by establishing common rules for safeguarding civil aviation and provides the basis for a common interpretation of Annex 17 to the Chicago Convention.

My Department sets out the requirements on air carriers, airports, and other regulated entities in the National Civil Aviation Security Programme (NCASP), based on EU and ICAO legislation. Measures undertaken to prevent hijacking include passenger and cabin baggage screening, security awareness training and background checks for all relevant staff.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is responsible for oversight of civil aviation security in Ireland. This includes inspections and audits of airports, air carriers, cargo companies, airport suppliers and suppliers of in-flight services. My Department receives regular reports on the results of these oversight activities.

As noted, the aviation security system is global and is intended to ensure the safety of the travelling public irrespective of their point of departure.

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