Michael Lowry
Ceist:32 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will ensure that all reports and investigations into the matter of air crashes in the State will be published in the future.
Vol. 424 No. 6
32 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will ensure that all reports and investigations into the matter of air crashes in the State will be published in the future.
38 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications the steps, if any, she proposes to take to review safety standards applicable to light air craft and helicopters in view of an increase in the number of accidents in recent times.
46 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she intends to review the safety standards applicable from the Air Navigational Services Office having regard to the marked increase in the number of fatal accidents among light aircraft and helicopters in 1992; if she has satisfied herself that there is adequate transparency from this Office in relation to the cause of individual accidents and the publication of reports into investigations relating to accidents; and if the entire system is in need of review.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 38, and 46 together.
In common with the practice in other European States it is not customary to publish reports of investigations into aviation accidents in the private/general aviation sector. Each such accident is carefully investigated by technical staff from my Department and any safety action necessary is taken with the minimum of delay. The number of accidents to light aircraft and helicopters in 1992 has been higher than normal but the causal factors have been typically diverse and not repetitious.