asked the Minister for Transport and Tourism (a) the reasons for issuing a ministerial direction restricting the flying of kites in December 1977; (b) whether any notice of his intention to issue such a direction was given to owners of kites or anybody else; (c) the steps that have been taken to inform the public and, in particular, the owners of kites of such a direction and (d) the penalty for breach of such a direction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Kite Flying Restriction.
23.
In November 1977 I prescribed, by way of a direction under the Air Navigation (Rules of the Air) Order, 1973, that kites could not be flown within five kilometres of an aerodrome or elsewhere at a height of more than 200 feet above ground level without the permission of my Department. The purpose of the direction is to regulate kite-flying in the interest of air safety.
There is no requirement for prior notification in regard to such directions but an air information circular issued by my Department in December gave details of the direction and these details subsequently received prominence in the press.
Relevant legislation provides that any person found guilty of an offence under the Air Navigation (Rules of the Air) Order shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding £200, or, at the discretion of the court, to both imprisonment and fine.
On the basis that the Shannon Flight Information Region covers virtually the entire country, except for Antrim, do I gather that no consultations took place with anybody, not even with the people in the North, before this ministerial direction was issued?
The Deputy will accept that there was a need for this direction because of a problem which had arisen in relation to an accident where an aircraft which was flying at 800 feet became entangled in the towline of a kite. The Deputy will accept it is reasonable that such an order should be made.
In the interests of safety such an order should be made, provided the people concerned are consulted. This order affects mainly children, say, in the entire city of Cork and a large part of Dublin who will have no idea that such an order was made and will have no information about it. If the Minister is trying to ensure air safety, there is no point issuing a ministerial direction if the people involved do not know anything about it.
It is most unlikely that children would fly kites which fly as high as the level laid down in the order. Some kites are being manufactured which are very large—
The Minister can say that again.
We have issued this AIC to a certain number of people, for example to licensed flight crew members, registered aircraft owners and operators, subscribers to the Irish Aeronautical Information publication and recipients of Class II notices. Some newspapers reported it. I accept what the Deputy said that perhaps we should have given more press publicity to the order.
Will the Minister bring in a direction preventing manifesto kite flying?
The Deputy might consider a manifesto for his own party.