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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Air Corps Crash.

The tragic deaths 14 months ago of Captain Dave Flaherty, Captain Mick Baker, Sergeant Pat Mooney and Captain Niall Byrne represented the worst accident in the history of the Air Corps. These four young men had completed a sterling day's work before meeting their fatal end. Just before their Dauphin helicopter crashed into a sand dune on Tramore beach, they had successfully completed a rescue operation off the Dungarvan coast.

The publication last week of the report into this tragedy by the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise is a serious indictment of the Department of Defence, the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources and of senior ranks in the Air Corps. That the report found no fewer than two active causes, six contributory causes and nine systemic causes for the crash points to serious system failures in the Department and the Air Corps.

An inescapable conclusion in the report is that a decision was taken to locate the Dauphin at Waterford Regional Airport from 1 July 1999, a day before the crash, to meet a public commitment given by the Government. This decision was made without due regard for adequate support infrastructure, including a qualified air traffic controller at Waterford airport, to ensure the crew could perform their duties safely and efficiently. Responsibility must lie with the Minister and his Department. This shortcoming in the plans for the launch of the Dauphin from Waterford is just one of a litany of examples where the Department and the Defence Forces did not work together to ensure they were properly resourced.

Contributory factors, such as crew fatigue and work pressures, are also serious issues which must be addressed by both the relevant Departments and senior ranks in the Air Corps. That the crew did not have access to catering facilities and accommodation at the airport shows a serious flaw in the decision to launch the helicopter from Waterford. Once again, a political decision was put before the people involved in executing the work.

One other recommendation in the report relates to the establishment by the Department of Defence of a fully resourced air safety office in the Air Corps. This recommendation was made in 1998 by the Pricewaterhouse review of the Naval Service and Air Corps and it should not be allowed to continue to collect dust. The Minister must tell the House this recommendation will be implemented now, not next week. The other recommendations should also be acted upon immediately. If expert advice is needed to implement them, it should be sought at an international level if we do not have it available in this country. I have raised safety issues with the Minister on previous occasions and he took action on them. I have no doubt he will take this report seriously.

More than a year ago the House passed legislation to extend the area of the Irish Sea by a further 200 miles. The need to ensure the Air Corps is properly resourced has never been greater. This week a total of 21 fishermen were lost at sea in two separate tragedies. Without the rapid response of the Air Corps to these tragedies, there would not have been any survivors. I pay tribute to the Air Corps for its part in these rescue operations in recent days. Its instant response to the tragedies and the efficiency with which it managed to rescue the survivors is commendable and shows how important the Air Corps is for this island. Already, to my distress, there has been much buck-passing with regard to the findings of the report. It is incumbent on the parties implicated in this report to accept and implement the full 25 recommendations contained in the report. A tragedy like that which took place on the fateful night of 2 July last should never be allowed to happen again.

I thank Deputy Wall for giving me the opportunity to address this issue by raising it in the House.

The publication last week of the final report by the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise into the accident at Tramore, County Waterford, on 2 July 1999, in which four members of the Air Corps, Captain David O'Flaherty, Captain Michael Baker, Sergeant Paddy Mooney and Corporal Niall Byrne, were tragically killed, evoked many sad memories for the families of the victims, the Defence Forces and the public in general. I avail of this oppor tunity again to pay tribute to these brave young men who gave their lives in the service of others and to express my sympathy to the families for their sad and tragic loss.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine the circumstances and cause or causes of the accident in order to prevent future such accidents. The report, which is a very comprehensive and detailed document, is being studied in my Department at present. The safety recommendations set out in the report which called for action by the Department and the Defence Forces are being considered as a matter of priority with a view to their immediate implementation. Those which call for action by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources are being closely examined and studied in that Department with a view to their immediate implementation.

I am putting arrangements in place to ensure that all the safety recommendations are addressed comprehensively by the relevant bodies. An initial meeting of a working group is being held in my Department tomorrow afternoon involving representatives from the Defence Forces, as well as from the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, for the purpose of establishing a review mechanism in relation to the implementation of the safety recommendations contained in the report. I intend that this group will meet on a regular basis in order to ensure the full implementation of the safety recommendations set out in the report. Progress reports from the various bodies involved will be presented and reviewed following which composite progress reports will be presented to me at regular intervals.

The Deputy will understand, however, that it would be premature at this stage to formulate a firm timetable for the full implementation of the safety recommendations arising from the air accident investigation unit report in view of the complexity of certain issues involved. Suffice to say that all safety recommendations which call for action by the Department of Defence and the Air Corps are being considered as a matter of priority with a view to their urgent implementation. In this regard, the air safety office recommended in the first safety recommendation is being established with immediate effect. An air safety officer has been appointed by the general officer commanding the Air Corps to this position.

Action has already begun to implement the recommendation that the Department of Defence should commission, on behalf of the Air Corps, an independent air operations safety audit by an agency with a proven track record of expertise in military aviation. In this regard, my Department has asked the Department of Public Enterprise to advise regarding the sourcing of appropriate expertise to carry out the recommended air operations safety audit. I have directed that this audit is to be carried out as soon as possible by a suitably qualified agency in a comprehensive and effective manner. All support necessary will be provided by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces to the chosen agency to carry out its work.

The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has confirmed that it has made progress on a number of recommendations. It is, inter alia, upgrading the training available for coastguard units in dealing with incidents of serious aircraft accidents as recommended. It has also agreed to review the aviation expertise and training requirements for personnel involved in the tasking of search and rescue air assets as recommended.

In addition to the air accident unit investigation, a military court of inquiry was convened to inquire into the circumstances of the accident. Its main thrust will be the examination of both the final report of the air accident investigation unit and the coroner's report. The work of the military court of inquiry, therefore, will now proceed following publication of the final report of the air accident investigation unit. The court of inquiry must also await the coroner's court findings.

I assure the House that I am firm in my resolve to have the safety recommendations contained in this very comprehensive report implemented as a matter of priority.

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