Search and Rescue Service.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2006

Thursday, 23 February 2006

Ceisteanna (118)

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

113 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person from Clare Island, County Mayo, in advanced labour and a patient of Mayo General Hospital, who was airlifted by the Air Corps search and rescue team at 4.45 a.m. on 14 February 2006 did not arrive in Mayo General Hospital until 3.35 p.m. on 15 February 2006 due to current civil aviation law where a helicopter with two or more passengers can only land at an airport and not at a hospital, in this case Sligo Airport, where the woman was then moved by taxi to Mayo General Hospital; his views on whether this is totally unnecessary; if he intends to introduce a change in this law to avoid such a thing happening in the future, which is totally unnecessary and dangerous in emergency cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/06]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport (Mr. Cullen)

The Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, has, since its establishment in 1994, been responsible for the regulation of aviation safety, including that of helicopters, in accordance with internationally agreed standards. The authority has informed me that, because the helicopter was carrying passengers as well as the woman in labour it was not permitted to land at an unapproved landing site. When a search and rescue helicopter is only carrying a casualty as well as its crew it is permitted to land at an unapproved site in accordance with international search and rescue regulations. These search and rescue regulations are international safety regulations which adhere to the highest emergency and safety standards and as such the IAA is not in a position to amend them.