Air Accident Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 September 2011

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Ceisteanna (166)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

168 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an investigation into an aircraft accident during a military training exercise on 12 October 2009 at Crumlin East, Cornamona, County Galway, resulting in two deaths is not complete and the report still not published; his views on the fact that investigations of this nature are usually completed within 12 months and that 23 months seems an inordinate delay; if he appreciates the anxiety that this is causing to the victim’s family; and when the report will be published. [25245/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar)

The Minister for Defence, at the time of the accident, and together with the then Minister for Transport agreed that the investigation would be conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department. A Preliminary Report was issued by the AAIU one month after the accident. Following a complex and detailed investigation and in accordance with Regulations 18 of S.I. 205 of 1997, a notice of findings that included a Draft Report on the accident was issued on 14 July 2011 to all interested parties associated with the accident. This included the families of the deceased pilots. All parties made formal comments and these require detailed consideration and response by the AAIU. While I fully understand that the delay in publication is causing anxiety to the immediate families, nevertheless, I am sure the Deputy appreciates that due process, including the formal procedures of response to these detailed comments, is required prior to finalising the report.