Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
111. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his proposals to make the relevant aviation regulatory bodies subject to freedom of information legislation, to enable the public to be fully assured that their safety is being safeguarded to the highest extent and in the most transparent way possible. [7521/14]
View answerOf the two aviation regulatory bodies under the aegis of my Department, the Commission for Aviation Regulation is already subject to Freedom of Information legislation. The other regulatory body – the Irish Aviation Authority – is not subject to FOI.
Ireland has an excellent record and reputation in aviation safety and I am determined to maintain and defend that and ensure that public confidence is not undermined. There is a comprehensive international framework in place to ensure aviation safety. The IAA performs its regulatory role in accordance with international and European standards and it publishes an annual safety report.
The IAA is itself audited regularly by teams from international bodies including the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure it is undertaking its regulatory activities to the required standards.
The occurrence reporting regime in aviation is underpinned by standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and by EU Directives and Regulations. These require that both the information reported, and the reporter, are treated in a confidential manner. This system is critical in an important element in aviation safety. It is my view that the application of FOI to this system could be counter-productive and could, in fact, undermine safety.
However, it might be possible to extend the FOI Act to other functions of the IAA. Last year, I brought Irish Rail under FOI. It is the first state owned enterprise or 'semi-state' to be so. Irish Water will also fall under FOI. Neither of these face significant competition from the private sector. I will examine the Deputies proposal and discuss it with the IAA before making a policy decision on the matter. I will also examine normal practice in other jurisdictions.
