I refer to what Senator Doherty said. I reported earlier in the year that there were about 44 recommendations from the air accident investigation unit, AAIU, that were outstanding and there was no answer whatsoever as to what had happened. This is precisely what Senator Doherty is talking about, that is, reporting mechanisms. After I spoke about the fact that these matters were all open with the AAIU report, within a very short time they were all suddenly closed. However, they were closed in an unsatisfactory way. …

I am rather shocked to hear that we rate so highly, given the report into Rescue 116, which was an appalling series of oversight failures and failures of everything one could possibility think of. There was recklessness on all parts. Very recently, I saw a tweet from the operator talking about leadership in safety and aviation. Leadership? Four people lost their lives. Let us not forget that. That is what this is about. It may be a snapshot in time, but it is about having those snapshots in time. It is about regula…

I am sure that the compliance with ICAO was there back in 2017. I am sure that ICAO was having a look over our shoulder or was it? If it was and we were so compliant, how the hell did we finish up in a situation where an operator was acting recklessly with its crews, a Department had no means of overseeing what was going on and the Irish Coast Guard, which was directly involved, was not observing what was going on? I find it very hard to accept that the ICAO was very happy with Ireland. It surely cannot have been h…

It is in relation to the operation of the entire SAR system in that period of time.

The air accident investigation report showed there was very poor oversight and reckless behaviour. Where does ICAO fit into that if it is keeping an eye on us and we are so compliant with ICAO rules? How did we finish up where we were? How did we finish up where the IAA was confused as to its role with respect to the monitoring and control of the search and rescue? How did we finish up with a situation where crews were reporting problems and the problems were ignored? Safety issues were being ignored. The Coast Gua…

I understand the Minister of State’s bona fides. However, in our wildest imagination, we cannot possibly say that we were compliant with anything leading up to the crash of Rescue 116. The air accident investigation report is damning of the operator, the Coast Guard, the IAA and the Minister of State’s Department. As my colleague just pointed out, two of the recommendations that were made about aviation expertise have gone totally and utterly disregarded. I have said this time and time again as we progressed throug…

Just one final point-----

Those are only two of the recommendations, there is another also which I cannot recall off the top of my head that is closed but not completed. I do not know how the Minister of State does that. There are four families out there who have lost loved ones. Are we trying to tell them that there was a recommendation from the AAIU and we are considering it? In the case of any air accident investigation report anywhere in the world – they are featured on Sky TV every night of the week – recommendations are implemented wi…

I move amendment No. 4: On page 53, line 35, to delete "aircraft."." and substitute the following: "aircraft. 63G. (1) For the purposes of ensuring compliance with air carrier operating licence obligations (which is deemed for these purposes to include an air operator certificate) and compliance with any other obligation of any air carrier, the Irish Aviation Authority may cause such investigation as it thinks fit to be carried out. (2) The Irish Aviation Authority may, for the purposes of subsection (1), direct on…

There are so many pages of amendments that the Cathaoirleach will have to forgive me. I am lost.

I see it.

I have it. I am trying to get my head around it. I am sorry, there are so many amendments flying through that I am having difficulty catching up with this one.

Forgive me. I am totally caught. Amendment No. 4 intends to delete the word "aircraft" and add new sections. This is for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the air carrier's operating licence obligations and compliance with any other obligation of any air carrier. The Irish Aviation Authority may cause investigations as it thinks fit to be carried out. We want to strengthen the hand of the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of oversight and investigations.

The Minister of State is welcome to the House for this, the third debate I have requested on the procurement process for the next SAR contract. I acknowledge that in the letter of 4 August, signed by the Minister of State and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, it is stated that, as Ministers, they are somewhat removed from the day-to-day execution of procurement processes and that they have engaged with their officials to understand and to reply to the issues I have been raising. Is the Minister of Stat…

The Minister is responsible for the Secretary General.

The Minister is responsible for what is said in her Department.

The Department made these allegations. I need to know if the Ministers stand over that.

Who is this civil servant who feels he can treat elected Members of this House in that way? Does the Minister of State accept that the Oireachtas and its joint committees have an oversight and governance role set out in EU Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on procurement, particularly under Article 83? Finally, in the most recent SAR contract the public was told that we were getting a fleet of new helicopters that would cost €40 million each. We did not get a fle…

It is rather easy to just write off what has been said.

I would like to remark on the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II yesterday. My God, the British forces know how to do ceremony. As I was sitting watching them with their medals on their chests yesterday, I was mindful of how mean we are in this country when it comes to recognising valour and the issuing of medals. We are still fighting our way through the Jadotville situation and various other acts of valour that have gone unrecognised in this country, and that is really sad. I congratulate the Association o…