Skip to main content
Normal View

Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2020

Thursday, 12 November 2020

Questions (26, 41, 65)

Gino Kenny

Question:

26. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Transport his plans to meet with the CEO of the IAA regarding policy on the aviation industry and the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35774/20]

View answer

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

41. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his engagement with the proposed new CEO of the IAA; his views on the Covid-19 safety guidelines drawn up by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, on airline travel; his further views on the future role for the IAA in ensuring passenger safety during the ongoing public health crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35793/20]

View answer

Bríd Smith

Question:

65. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his plans to meet with the IAA regarding changes in the remit of the organisation, especially its role during the Covid-19 crisis in aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35772/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 41 and 65 together.

As you may know, the Irish Aviation Authority currently operates under a dual mandate, within which it provides air traffic management services on a commercial basis to the aviation industry and is also the safety and security regulator of that same industry. Under this dual mandate, the IAA also regulates some of its own commercial functions. Government policy is to decouple these two roles, and as part of this reform initiative I have had engagement with the Authority. In addition my Department has ongoing engagement with IAA in relation to corporate governance and policy matters including, for example, the response to the Covid 19 crisis and Brexit.

Under planned structural reforms, the existing for-profit air navigation services will be separated out as a standalone commercial semi-State body, while the Commission for Aviation Regulation’s economic and consumer affairs responsibilities will be merged with the IAA’s remaining safety and security regulation functions. The result will be a strong, single aviation regulator overseeing all aspects of Irish aviation. This newly reformed IAA will provide a single point of contact for all of Ireland’s aviation regulatory requirements – for consumers, the traveling public and industry. Draft legislation to give legal effect to these institutional reforms is being finalised, which I hope to publish soon, and the Authority is hiring a new Chief Regulator following an international recruitment process run by the Public Appointment Service. The new Regulator will take up the position on January 1, 2021.

As to how the present Covid pandemic has impacted the IAA, the collapse in air traffic has had a detrimental impact on its for-profit revenue streams coming from air traffic services. Also, in its role as regulator of aviation safety and security within the State it has had to adjust to the public health disruption caused by Covid and the operational challenges that this brings to all sectors of our society at this time. However, it is important to note that both sets of challenges are being managed.

On the matter of the EASA/ECDC Covid-19 Health Safety Protocols, these provide important and coordinated guidance on measures to protect public health arising from air travel. Drawing from this guidance, my Department has produced a national “Protocol for the management of air passengers in light of Covid-19,” which sets out a number of important measures covering the end-to-end passenger journey. It is important to understand that the EASA/ECDC Protocols, and the National Protocols that flow from these, are subject to regular review to ensure that they are up to date with developments.

The European Commission has indicated a preference for greater harmonisation and coordination of the EU approach to international travel. It recently requested EASA/ECDC is to develop a a proposal for a common EU approach to testing for COVID 19 to facilitate international travel. I expect that this proposal will be put forward by EASA/ECDC in the coming weeks.

Top
Share