Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Transport his response to the suggestion that a confidential reporting system for pilots be introduced here to facilitate the reporting of unsafe practices by airlines; his plans to facilitate same by the introduction of whistleblower legislation in the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6270/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is in the process of transposing an EU directive on mandatory occurrence reporting, Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation, into domestic legislation.

There is an optional provision for voluntary reporting of incidents that do not come under the requirement for compulsory reporting in this directive and the Department will examine the feasibility of establishing such for the whole Irish aviation system to include operators, air traffic management providers, maintenance and airport personnel.

Under the provisions of the Irish Aviation Authority orders, airlines, as a condition of an air operators certificate, are at present obliged to report all aviation safety related occurrences to the Irish Aviation Authority or in certain cases to the air accident investigation unit of my Department.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the regime operated by the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of the possible maximum number of hours to be worked by pilots in a 12 month period; the policy directions he has made under section 7 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 relating to pilot hours; the direction he intends to issue to the Irish Aviation Authority on pilot hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6271/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of flight time limitations for flight crew, including the specification of those limitations, is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority under the functions conferred on it by the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993, as amended. The IAA has informed the Department that flight time limitations relating to flight crew are required for international aviation under the terms of annex 6 to the Chicago Convention, which is one of the annexes delegated to the IAA in the Schedule to the Act. The matter of flight time limitations will be covered by forthcoming EU legislation on flight operations, known as EU-OPS, which is expected to be enacted this year.

I have not issued any directions to the IAA under section 7 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 on pilot hours and I have no intention currently of issuing any such directions.