Vol. 513 No. 6
196 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the scope and nature of the inquiry into the Air Corps helicopter crash in 1999; if the issues raised by relatives concerning safety will be considered by this inquiry; if the inquiry will be published and available to the public; the date of publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3061/00]
Following the accident at Tramore, County Waterford, on 2 July 1999 in which four members of the Air Corps were tragically killed, my colleague the Minister for Public Enterprise and I jointly directed that the accident be investigated under S.I. 205 of 1997, Air Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Regulations, 1997. Pursuant to this direction the investigation is being conducted by the air accident investigation unit – AAIU – of the Department of Public Enterprise. A senior Air Corps officer with appropriate training is acting as investigator-in-charge. He is being assisted by inspectors from the AAIU, by Air Corps personnel and two experts from overseas, that is, a principal inspector from the UK air accidents investigation branch and the head of military psychology of the Swedish armed forces.
The purpose of this investigation, which is wide-ranging and complex, is to determine the circumstances and cause or causes of the accident in order to prevent future such accidents. All issues, including those raised by relatives concerning safety, are being encompassed by the investigation. The final report of this investigation will be made public. The regulations provide that the final report should be published, where possible, within 12 months of the date of the accident. In this connection it is estimated that a draft final report will be ready for circulation to interested parties by the end of March next. Any safety measures proposed by the investigating team will, of course, be implemented as a matter of priority.
In addition to the aforementioned investigation, a military court of inquiry has been convened to inquire into the circumstances of the accident. Its main thrust will be an examination of both the report of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise and the coroner's report.
