Vol. 514 No. 5
15 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Defence if he has met the relatives of the deceased (details supplied); the action, if any, he will take in relation to the issues concerning safety which they raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/00]
37 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence when the report on the inquiry into the Air Corps crash on 2 July 1999 will be available; if its findings will be made public; when the Military Court of Inquiry will complete its work; and if a decision has been taken on the replacement of the Dauphin helicopters. [4558/00]
39 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the investigation into the crash of an Air Corps helicopter in July 1999 in which four personnel were killed; if a senior Air Corps engineer warned his superiors that crucial flying equipment in the Dauphin helicopter was obsolete less than six months before the crash; the action, if any, taken as a result of this warning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4527/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 37 and 39 together.
Following the accident at Tramore, County Waterford, on 2 July 1999 in which four members of the Air Corps were tragically killed, my colleague, the Minister for Public Enterprise, and I jointly directed that the accident be investigated under Statutory Instrument No. 205 of 1997, Air Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, 1997. Pursuant to this direction the investigation is being conducted by the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise. A senior Air Corps officer with appropriate training is acting as investigator-in-charge. He is being assisted by inspectors from the AAIU, Air Corps personnel and two overseas experts – a principal inspector from the UK air accident investigation branch and the head of military psychology of the Swedish armed forces.
The purpose of this investigation, which is wide-ranging and complex, is to determine the circumstances and cause or causes of the accident to prevent future such accidents. I met relatives of the deceased both immediately following the tragic accident last July and since then. These meetings were of a private and confidential nature and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to elaborate further. All issues, including those raised by relatives concerning safety, are being encompassed by the investigation. The final report of the investigation will be made public.
The regulations provide that the final report should be published, where possible, within 12 months of the date of the accident. In this connection it is estimated that a draft final report will be ready for circulation to interested parties by the end of March next. Any safety measures proposed by the investigation team will, of course, be implemented as a matter of priority. As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on any aspect of its deliberations. All aircraft in the Air Corps fleet undergo regular maintenance and scheduled overhauls to ensure they are fully airworthy and meet the certification standards laid down for the aviation industry. All Air Corps aircraft are certified serviceable before flight.
In addition to the aforementioned investigation, a Military Court of Inquiry has been convened to inquire into the circumstances of the accident. Its main thrust will be an examination of both the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise and the coroner's report. Therefore, the work of the Military Court of Inquiry will proceed following publication of the final report of the air accident investigation unit. The court of inquiry must also await the Coroner's Court findings. I am informed that the Coroner's Court is adjourned until mid-July next.
The future equipment requirements for the Air Corps and response thereto will be dealt with in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on Defence. The purchase of a significant number of capital assets such as new helicopters would require considerable investment of State funds to finance the initial acquisition and the ongoing maintenance regimes which must be followed to ensure the fullest level of operational safety. Pursuing the objective of best use of financial resources, I must be satisfied that whatever procurement programme is embarked upon will be an integrated response to the real and realistic needs of the Air Corps and the Defence Forces overall in fulfilling their roles and tasks in the new organisation. In the meantime, I recently established a civil military board to examine urgently a number of issues on Air Corps equipment, particularly in the context of flying training and the operation of the search and rescue service.
If a senior Air Corps engineer warned his superiors of problems in relation to flying equipment, is there a letter on the Department's records?
It would be extremely unwise and inappropriate for me to make any comment on such a question. There is an investigation going on and a Military Court of Inquiry is being established. The experts dealing with the matter have all the papers available to them and the help of international experts to determine what was the cause or causes of the accident. The Deputy will appreciate, in that circumstance, it would not be appropriate for a Minister to refer to comments made by individuals, whether before or after the accident.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
