Clare Daly
Question:70. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the work of the high-level project management board regarding the creation of a single national aviation regulator. [6349/19]
View answerTuesday, 12 February 2019
Questions (70)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware from my previous reply in December, the Government has approved a proposal to separate the Irish Aviation Authority’s air navigation service provision functions from its aviation safety and security regulatory functions, and merge these regulatory functions with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. The objective is to have a single aviation regulator responsible for economic, safety and security regulation and a standalone air navigation service provider. This is in line with best international practice.
As regards the current status of the work, I can advise the Deputy that a Steering Group comprising senior officials from my Department, the Chief Executive Officer of the IAA and the Aviation Regulation Commissioner is leading the preparatory work to implement the proposed changes including work on draft legislation. As previously outlined in December, the work of this Group is detailed and in some areas highly technical in nature. I expect the Steering Group will make recommendations to me in the first half of this year.
As I have explained before, the overall approach to the Government’s aviation regulation reform agenda is wholly in accordance with established practice for structural reform processes within the Irish public sector. There will be appropriate staff consultation throughout the process. There has already been engagement with the main staff representative body – Fórsa – and in all eventualities the commitment is that staff will transfer to the new structures on no less favourable terms and conditions, unless otherwise negotiated.
Recognising that such reform has a number of complex components, I am mindful of the need to manage the transition to the proposed new arrangements for aviation regulation in a careful and methodical manner. That includes in relation to the eventual enactment of supporting legislation. As I advised in December, while good progress is being made, there are still a number of stages to navigate on the way to the production of a draft Bill that can be put forward to the House for consideration.
This is an important project for the future of aviation regulation in Ireland. While the changes involved may be complex, they also provide a new opportunity for enhancing existing provisions. Throughout the change process, senior management in both organisations will ensure that business as usual continues for all external stakeholders.