Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Air Navigation Order.

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

295 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the reason for bringing into effect as part of the Air Navigation (Personnel Licensing) (Amendment) Order, 1996, some features of a draft document; if his attention has been drawn to the concerns in relation to the order and at the lack of consultation undertaken; and if he will consider withdrawing the order pending further talks and consultations. [11714/96]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

The licensing of pilots and the prescribing, by way of order, of the technical requirements in this regard is a statutory day to day function of the Irish Aviation Authority under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993.

The order to which the Deputy refers was made by the Irish Aviation Authority on 19 February 1996 and, in accordance with section 6 of the 1993 Act, was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 26 April 1996. Under section 6 of the 1993 Act, the order can be annulled if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House of the Oirechtas within 21 sitting days from the date the order was laid.

The Authority informs me that the order includes some features of the draft joint aviation requirements — flight crew licensing, or JAR-FCL for short. These JAR-FCL requirements were prepared by the member authorities of the Joint Aviation Authorities, JAA, of Europe, including Ireland, with a view to harmonising the requirements for flight crew licensing in Europe.

While the JAR-FCL document is still in draft form, it has been finalised for adoption by the JAA member states, and adoption, I understand, is scheduled to occur in June 1996. Ireland will have to comply with the JAR-FCL standards by 1998. It is the policy of the Irish Aviation Authority that, where possible, Irish flight crew licencing standards should be aligned with the JAR-FCL in advance of mandatory implementation deadlines. The Authority, therefore, deemed it prudent to phase in some of the changes foreseen by the JAR-FCL.

I am also informed by the Authority that the avaition industry and interested bodies were consulted in advance of the making of the order. As I have mentioned above, the Authority has full responsibility, under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993, for the making of orders governing the licensing of pilots, and such orders may only be annulled by a resolution of either House of the Oireachtas.