I propose to answer Questions Nos. 12 and 80 together.
I met with Peter Cassells and other officials of ICTU and SIPTU earlier this year as part of an ongoing series of meetings with ICTU and with the representatives of various trade unions that I and officials of my Department have held prior to and since implementation of the ground handling directive.
In order to address trade union concerns that there might be a gap in safety regulation as regards ground handling activities, I asked my Department to meet with the relevant regulatory agencies, the Irish Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Authority, to explore whether additional steps might be required in this area. The opinion of those organisations, as expressed at that meeting, is that there is no failure of monitoring and enforcing of either civil aviation standards or of health and safety standards in respect of ground handling services. The regulatory authorities also expressed the view that there is no requirement for additional regulations in respect of those activities at this time.
The aviation regulator will not have a role in relation to the safety aspects of ground handling – his will be purely an economic regulatory role. My Department will, however, continue to keep in close contact with the IAA and the HSA regarding the adequacy of ground handling safety regulation. I continue to monitor letters I receive from Deputies, Senators and members of the public because they often mention issues which later emerge and to which I pay attention. I cannot pinpoint what the fears are but it is clear they exist. If I could isolate the fears, I might be able to address them.
