Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 2

Written Answers - Air Accident Report.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

83 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date 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, County Waterford in July 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13788/01]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

87 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the progress made to date regarding the establishment of the Air Corps safety office; the resources available to the office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13786/01]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

I propose to take Question Nos. 83 and 87 together.

Following the publication of the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise into the accident at Tramore on 2 July 1999, urgent action was taken by my Department in relation to the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report. In this regard I put in place arrangements to monitor progress in regard to the implementation of the recommendations. The sixth meeting of a working group charged with overseeing the process is scheduled for Thursday 24 May 2001, 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. In this regard, I am pleased considerable progress has been made in the implementation of the recommendations. This group will continue to meet on a regular basis to ensure the speedy implementation of all the safety recommendations set out in the report.

One of the key recommendations relates to the commissioning of an independent air operations safety audit of the Air Corps. Intercontinental Aviation Safety Consultants, who were awarded the contract for this audit on 21 February 2001, commenced their work on 21 March 2001 and concluded the audit on 29 March 2001. I expect to receive their report before the end of this month.

A further key recommendation in the air accident investigation unit report was the establishment of an air safety office in the Air Corps and this was acted on straight away. The air safety office has been in operation for some months past and will be an intrinsic part of the new Air Corps organisational structure upon its formal implementation. Arising from the special study on the Air Corps undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants, and reflecting the policy parameters laid down in the White Paper, Air Corps management has submitted a draft implementation plan to me and I have approved in principle the proposed new Air Corps organis ation. This will be put in place once consultations with the representative associations, which are at an advanced stage, are completed. A full time flight safety officer of lieutenant colonel rank and an officer of captain rank have been appointed by the GOC Air Corps in the interim. The flight safety officer reports directly to the GOC Air Corps. A programme of specialist training and courses to equip the flight safety officer for his post has been under way since the end of 2000.

As I have previously stated in the House, I take all safety issues very seriously and the safety of personnel working in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, at home and overseas, is of paramount importance. I have emphasised to the military authorities that safety standards in equipment, facilities and procedures are of the utmost importance. Funding is not an issue where safety is concerned. Funding is, and will continue to be, available to improve and modernise safety equipment and procedures where necessary.