Government negligence is putting Coast Guard air crew safety at risk states Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Committee Chair Conor D. McGuinness TD
Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Conor D. McGuinness TD, has accused the government and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) of negligence after reports that Coast Guard helicopter crews are subjected to unsafe working-hour practices risking lives.
The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, described the revelations as “a shocking failure of oversight and leadership from government and the regulator.”
McGuinness confirmed that he has invited the Irish Coast Guard to appear before the Oireachtas Committee this month to discuss safety at sea, including concerns over working time, fatigue and regulatory oversight. He has also written to the IAA and the Minister for Transport on his “very serious concerns.”
He stated:
“The Irish Aviation Authority has a statutory duty to ensure that all aviation operations are conducted in full compliance with safety standards. Yet we now have a situation where 24-hour rosters are being logged as just 16.5 hours worked — a sleight of hand that reduces costs for employers but increases the risks faced by crews.
Sinn Fein TD, and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Conor D. McGuinness
