I would never question the Leas-Chathaoirleach's impartiality. He is indeed a man of honour. I frequently speak in the Chamber about our Defence Forces. Yesterday, I had the honour of visiting the Air Corps in Baldonnel. I met a wonderful group of people who are loyal servants of the State but I also saw how pathetically they are supported. We have eight traineeship aircraft in Baldonnel for training pilots. Six of them are on the ground and cannot be used. We have helicopters, a number of which are on the ground a…

I suggest that the children get no homework.

I have spoken about the Defence Forces here on many occasions. It is becoming an international embarrassment now. Yesterday, the foreign affairs site foreignpolicy.com published a statement to the effect that "Ireland is Europe's weakest link". The site outlined the current state of defence in this country and how defence has not featured. My colleague, Deputy Berry, and I frequently say Ireland does not do security. This article brings into the public domain what has been said to me privately throughout Europe. An…

Chime, the National Charity for Deafness and Hearing Loss, is carrying out a survey on hearing loss and I ask people to participate in it. It affects us all. I am glad I could not hear the Leas-Chathaoirleach ringing the bell there.

At this stage I will step down.

I should thank the Clerk of the Seanad for the work he has done to ensure I get to hear things around here.

That is a bit ambitious.

I wish to speak to what the Minister of State said. Will the IAA take over full responsibility for oversight of the search and rescue, SAR, contractor services or will the Department still have its own person carrying out oversight duties?

As has been said, it is very late in the day. This Bill has been two years rolling through this House. It is rather late in the day to find technical amendments that should have been picked up much earlier. When I see amendments being brought forward because of erroneous drafting or whatever, I wonder if there are other things we have not found yet.

I am. There is one slight difference. It says "not less" and we say "minimum" but it is marginal.

I am looking at the amendment involving the insertion of paragraphs (a) and (b), which, I believe, would be at line 31.

I am a little confused. We are talking about amendment No. 12. Is that correct?

Fine.

Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify a point. Paragraph (a) reads, "specify the organisations invited to participate in the Forum, which shall include recognised aviation stakeholder groups, recognised aviation trade unions and representative bodies, certified aviation organisations and other interested parties,". When the Minister of State specifies the groups that are participating in this, will she find herself in a situation where others will feel excluded by not being represented on this forum? As the Mi…

I second the amendment.

I totally support my colleague, Senator Doherty, on this. I would be extremely uncomfortable when the IAA appointing its own chairperson. This amendment makes perfect sense and would make for a far more democratic organisation from the outset. In light of the fact that the Minister of State will have to go back to Dáil Éireann with this Bill anyway because of the amendments that have been made, I ask the Minister of State to take on this one amendment. The Minister of State has been extremely co-operative so far an…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment. We have discussed this and thrashed it out in the House about the licenceholders' forum. The important thing is that there is what I would call a mean and keen group of people who have a common interest and the fog is being taken out of the committee. The stakeholders forum will include all sorts of people who have no role whatsoever in developing a licenceholders' charter, but the people specified in the amendment are directly involved in the safety and safe operation of the aircraft. From …

I second the amendment.

Quite apart from contact with IALPA and individual pilots making contact with me, what has driven the debate over the past two and a half years is the Rescue 116 incident. Perhaps if legislation had been in place alongside greater oversight, more engagement and a management willing to listen to its employees, things might have been highlighted sooner. In the report on Rescue 116, we find countless errors and examples of unwillingness to listen. A classic example is the overall lighting in the cockpit. That has driv…