Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 September 2020
74. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if the review of the final air accident investigation unit report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash which claimed the life of four air crew at Blacksod, County Mayo, on 14 March 2017 has been completed; if the review board has submitted its findings; his plans to publish the final report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22721/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a Review Board was established on 11 March 2020 to re-examine certain findings of the Draft Final Report of the investigation into the accident involving Rescue 116 at Black Rock, Co Mayo on 14th March 2017.
The Review Board is chaired by Senior Counsel Patrick McCann who is assisted by an independent Expert Member. It was established in line with the regulations governing the investigation of air accidents, specifically ‘Statutory Instrument (SI) No 460 of 2009: Air Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents) Regulations 2009’.
The Review Board is entirely independent in its work and the timeframe for the Board to carry out the re-examination is a matter for the Chairman to determine. The 2009 regulations provide that on completion of the re-examination the Chairperson of the Review shall make a report to me. I have not yet received a report from the Chairman of the Review Board.
