Vol. 519 No. 3
91 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the progress being made in regard to the investigation into the cause of the crash of the Air Corps helicopter near Tramore in July 1999 in which four personnel died; when he expects to receive the final report of the Board of Inquiry and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13669/00]
92 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence the progress to date of the inquiry into the fatal Air Corps helicopter crash; if the families have received a copy of the report; when he will make it available and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13713/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 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 Number 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 (AAIU) 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, by Air Corps personnel and two experts from overseas, namely, a principal inspector from the UK air accidents 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 in order to prevent such future accidents. All issues, including those raised by relatives concerning safety, are being encompassed by the investigation.
In accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned statutory instrument, I, together with other relevant parties, including the families, received on 10 May 2000 a copy of the draft final report. A period of 28 days is provided within which representations may be furnished. In the meantime, the contents of the draft report are to be treated as confidential as prescribed by regulation.
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. Any safety measures proposed by the investigating team will be implemented as a matter of priority.
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 final 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 coroners court is adjourned until mid-July next.
