Vol. 518 No. 6
169 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will report on the serious concerns expressed by ground handling staff regarding the failure to ensure that the monitoring and enforcement of safety standards applies to non-airline and airline providers of ground handling services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12390/00]
I am aware of concerns regarding the need to ensure minimum standards in respect of groundhandling services at airports. I have received considerable correspondence on the subject, as have other Ministers and Deputies.
At my request, officials in my Department met with the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, and the Health and Safety Authority, HSA, in regard to this matter. In the opinion of those organisations, there is no failure of monitoring and enforcing of all existing ICAO and HSA safety standards for groundhandling services, whether supplied by airline or non-airline service providers. Aer Rianta's by-laws provide further safeguards in respect of safety in the airport.
