Vol. 483 No. 1
118 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on whether the commitment by the Irish Aviation Authority to generate revenue through Air Traffic Control represents a conflict of interests for the Safety and Regulatory Authority. [19914/97]
119 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on whether it is inappropriate to have the safety and regulatory functions in relation to aviation married to a commercial service provided by the Irish Aviation Authority under the Irish Aviation Act, 1993. [19915/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together.
The Irish Aviation Authority has two primary roles: to regulate the safety standards of the Irish aviation industry and to provide air traffic control and related communications services in Irish controlled airspace.
In fulfilling its safety regulations role the IAA operates to international safety standards as laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), The Joint Aviation Authorities of Europe and the European Union. Its costs in discharging this role are recovered through charges levied for services to the Irish aviation sector for such activities as aircraft registration, pilot licences, etc.
Similarly, the air traffic control service operates to guidelines laid down by ICAO and by Euro-control, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation. It operates on a cost recovery basis, recouping its costs from airlines in line with charging principles laid down by ICAO and Eurocontrol.
The Minister is satisfied with the current arrangements for safety regulation and air traffic control operations within the Authority.
