Vol. 514 No. 2
69 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that the delivery of ancillary services to airlines are satisfactorily regulated from a safety point of view; and her views on whether it is appropriate to add further conditions to the licensing of these service providers or to extend the remit of the aviation authority to allow it develop suitable standards for these services where it deems it appropriate. [3792/00]
The Irish Aviation Authority is the regulatory body responsible for the safety and technical aspects of civil aviation. Aircraft operators are responsible to the IAA for ensuring that the groundhandling services they have contracted for are properly and safely rendered and the IAA monitors the activities of the airlines in this regard. The IAA has not expressed any concerns to me regarding the adequacy of current regulation from a safety point of view and, accordingly, it is not my intention to extend their remit at this time.
Groundhandling companies which are approved, under the regulations to implement the Groundhandling Directive, to operate at Irish airports receive their approval on the basis that they will comply with the requirements of both the airport manager at that airport, and the airlines with whom they contract, as regards each organisation's technical and safety standards for groundhandling operations.
In addition, they are also subject to the health and safety legislation in the normal manner and to the bye-laws in force at airports as regards safe working practices.
70 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if new EU regulations are being introduced with regard to trainee pilots for commercial airlines in Ireland; if so, the airports which will be affected; and the airports which will be allowed to continue the training of pilots. [3852/00]
Approval of undertakings which conduct pilot training and of the content of training courses for pilots is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority. I understand from the Authority that it is not aware of any current proposals for an EU Directive or Regulation relating to these matters.
The authority inform me that airports, as such, are not involved in the training of pilots but may contain or host organisations which do. At present a number of flying clubs throughout the country are registered with the authority for the purpose of training private pilots to the standards specified by the European joint aviation authorities.
