Vol. 535 No. 2
147 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence when the safety report on Baldonnel Airport will be published; if the runways are currently considered safe for use; and if the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has requested that action be taken to ensure safety at the airport. [12458/01]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the air safety audit of Air Corps operations which was undertaken as a result of the Department of Public Enterprise air accident investigation unit report into the accident at Tramore on 2 July 1999. Intercontinental aviation safety consultants were awarded the contract for this audit which commenced on 21 March 2001 and was completed on 29 March 2001. The report of the audit team is expected in my Department by the middle of this month.
The matter of the runways at Casement Aerodrome arose in the context of the aforementioned audit was discussed, inter alia, at a meeting between my Department and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on 6 April 2001.
The condition of the runways is being monitored by the Air Corps on a daily basis and measures are in place to ensure that they continue to be safe for use, pending consideration of any further action required.
