Clare Daly
Question:557 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the role of the aviation regulator; and the role, if any, it plays with regard to consumer complaints. [6333/12]
View answerTuesday, 7 February 2012
Questions (496)
Written answers
The Commission for Aviation Regulation was established in 2001 under the Aviation Regulation Act 2001. The principal functions of the Commission are the regulation of airport charges at Dublin Airport, and the regulation of aviation terminal charges levied by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Other regulatory functions include the licensing of air carriers, travel agents and tour operators, the approval of ground handling operators at the State airports and the implementation of certain aspects of Community legislation in relation to the allocation of aircraft landing and take-off slots.
In addition, the Commission is designated as the National Enforcement body in Ireland for EU rules under:
Regulation (EC) 261/2004 (rights of air passenger in respect of, cancellation, delays and denied boarding), and
Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 (the rights of passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility (PRM) when travelling by air),
and as such the Commission deals with consumer complaints arising from infringements of rights under these Regulations.
The Deputy may wish to refer to the Commission's Annual Report for 2010 which gives a more detailed account of the Regulator's activities in the area of consumer complaints during 2010 and which is available on the Commission's website www.aviationreg.ie. The Annual Report is also available in the Oireachtas Library.