Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 4

Written Answers. - Air Corps Safety Audit.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

48 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence if an air operations safety audit of the Air Corps is taking place as recommended by the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise; when it will be finalised; and when the report will be published. [3910/01]

Michael Bell

Question:

54 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence the progress made in the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the air accident investigations unit into the crash of an Air Corps helicopter in Tramore in July 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4006/01]

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

65 Mr. De Rossa asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date on the air operations safety audit within the Air Corps; when it is likely to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4007/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 54 and 65 together.

As I have previously stated in the House, all of the safety recommendations set out in the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise, into the accident at Tramore on 2 July 2000, which call for action by the Department and the Defence Forces are being considered as a matter of priority with a view to their immediate implementation. In this regard, I have put in place arrangements to monitor progress in regard to the implementation of the recommendations.

The fourth meeting of the working group charged with overseeing the process was held recently in the Department of Defence, involving representatives from my Department, including the Defence Forces and the flight safety officer of the Air Corps, as well a representative from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources. Progress reports from the various bodies involved were presented and reviewed and a composite progress report was prepared in the Department and presented to me. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that considerable progress is being reported by all bodies involved in the implementation of the recommendations. This group will continue to meet on a regular basis in order to ensure the speedy implementation of the safety recommendations set out in the report.

In regard to the commissioning of an independent air operations safety audit of the Air Corps, I am pleased to report that the procedure for the selection of an appropriate agency to undertake this audit is under way. A specification was drawn up by my Department in consultation with the Department of Public Enterprise and the Air Corps, and this is currently under consideration by a number of potential auditors. Initial responses have been received from six of these agencies and it is expected that responses will be received from all those approached by early next week. At that stage a likely time frame for the conduct of the audit will become clearer. All support necessary will be provided by my Department and the Defence Forces to the chosen agency to carry out its work.