Vol. 514 No. 3
52 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Public Enterprise whether the Aviation Regulator, the Health and Safety Authority, the Irish Aviation Authority, or some other independent agency will be responsible for airside safety at Irish airports and, if not, if it will be self regulated. [4098/00]
53 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has met representatives of ICTU in relation to the EU ground handling directive; and the proposals, if any, she has to ensure that all of the safety concerns they have expressed in relation to new licensed operators for ground handling will conform to the appropriate international codes of conduct. [4021/00]
66 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the reason airport ground handling is been liberalised; the measures, if any, which will be in place to ensure regulation of safety standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4058/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 53 and 66 together.
I met with Peter Cassells and other officials of ICTU and SIPTU yesterday as part of an ongoing series of meetings with ICTU and with the representatives of various trade unions that I and officials of my Department have held prior to and since implementation of the Groundhandling Directive. In order to address trade union concerns that there may be a gap in safety regulation as regards groundhandling activities, it was agreed that my Department would open discussions with the Irish Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Authority to explore whether additional steps might be required in this area.
The Irish Aviation Authority is the regulatory body responsible for the safety and technical aspects of civil aviation and to the extent that they affect air safety, the Irish Aviation Authority monitors the airlines' supervision in regard to groundhandling.
The Health and Safety Authority is the national body with overall responsibility for the administration and enforcement of health and safety at work in Ireland. The authority monitors and enforces compliance with the legislation, provides expert advice to employers and the self-employed and promotes education, training and research. It brings forward, as necessary, proposals for regulations and codes of practice.
The authority carries out regular inspection of airport activities to which the safety and health laws apply, including compliance with the duties imposed on either those who control workplaces or who employ workers. These inspections encompass airside activities, including groundhandling.
The functions of the proposed aviation regulator will relate to the economic regulation of airlines and airports including groundhandling activities. His functions will not cut across or diminish in any way the safety regulatory functions of the Health and Safety Authority and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Regulations governing access to the groundhandling market were signed by me on 16 December 1998 for the purpose of implementing EU Directive No. 96/67/EC of 15 October 1996.
