Aviation

Aviation consists of the following divisions:

• Airports Division
• Air Navigation Division
• Aviation Services Division
• Aviation Safety and Security Division

The responsibilities in these divisions are to:

• promote maximum connectivity to support Ireland’s economic and social goals in a safe, competitive and sustainable manner
• build organisational performance through the development and delivery of human resource policies spanning change and renewal, workforce planning, training, promotion, mobility and performance management
• ensure the effective delivery of a range of corporate responsibilities including policy coordination of EU and cross-sectoral matters, corporate governance policy for agencies, emergency planning, oversight of customer service provision and statutory obligations such as Freedom of Information and Archives

The main role and responsibilities of the Airports Division include the formulation and implementation of Irish Airports Policy, corporate governance of daa and Shannon Group, the administration of a number of financial support schemes for the regional airports and regional air services serving those airports. The overall objective is the sustainable development of airports to ensure appropriate levels of connectivity to support Ireland’s economic and social goals in line with the National Aviation Policy.

Specific objectives are to:

• facilitate the optimum structure to ensure strong network of airports
• support the development of State airports in their respective markets; Dublin Airport as a secondary hub, Cork and Shannon Airports as gateways for business and tourism purposes
• review existing regulatory regime for airport charges, consult with stakeholders, decide future policy for regulation of airport charges and make appropriate legislative changes
• implement the Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019

Other functions currently being carried out by Airports Division include:

• liaising with U.S. authorities on ongoing U.S. preclearance issues at Shannon and Dublin Airports
• chairing the bi-annual National Facilitation (FAL) Committee which comprises key stakeholders in the aviation sector with the overall aim of improving the passenger experience at our airports and ensuring implementation of the FAL programme
• publication of statistical information on the department’s website, including passenger numbers, new routes, cargo carried and airport commercial movements. Statistics can be found at: Department of Transport Aviation Statistics Snapshot

The provision of air navigation services in Irish controlled airspace is the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), a commercial State body established under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The IAA also advises the Minister for Transport and the government in relation to air navigation and airspace management policy.

The creation of the EU internal market in air services in the 1990s removed all commercial restrictions for carriers flying within the EU such as restrictions on the routes that could be served, the number of flights that could be operated and the fares that could be imposed. All EU licensed carriers are now free to operate services on any route within the Community. The Revised 3rd Air Package - Regulation (EC) No.1008/2008 - sets down common rules for the operation of air services in the Community. Carriers whose principal place of business is in Ireland are licensed in accordance with the Regulation by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Rights to operate commercial air services between Ireland and States outside the European Union are subject to the existence of a bilateral Air Service Agreement under the Chicago Convention and the provisions of domestic law.

Ireland has a significant number of bilateral Air Service Agreements with third countries and the Aviation Services & Security Division is responsible for implementation of the existing agreements and negotiating new agreements.

The department has responsibility for aviation safety and security policy and legislation. This includes responsibility for Ireland’s interests being represented internationally, as a contracting State to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), through European Union (EU) membership, and as a member of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Management Board.

The Irish Aviation Authority(IAA) has statutory responsibility for the regulatory oversight of aviation safety in Ireland and for advising the Minister for Transport and the government in this regard, as provided for under the Irish Aviation Authority Act, 1993. The Authority regulates aviation safety in accordance with the standards and rules set internationally by ICAO, EASA, and the EU.

The State Safety Programme (SSP) develops and maintains the high standards of safety management in Irish civil aviation. The State Safety Programme Coordination Committee consists of technical experts from the IAA and the department and is jointly headed by Director of Strategy, Regulatory Performance and Innovation in the IAA and the Head of the Aviation Safety and Security Division in the department. The Committee provides a platform for review of key issues affecting risk and performance in civil aviation and for co-ordination between the main State agencies on key decisions affecting civil aviation policy. Access the Terms of Reference for the National State Safety Programme Coordinating committee.

As provided for under Statutory Instrument No.551 of 2012, the IAA is also the designated body in the State responsible for oversight of the implementation of the National Civil Aviation Security Programme. The Programme is maintained by the department in consultation with the National Civil Aviation Security Committee, and is the framework document for aviation security in the State, including all International standards and requirements.

The safety and security regulation activities of the IAA and its regulated entities are subject to continuous monitoring oversight by ICAO, the European Commission and EASA. In addition, the department ensures a review and report to the Minister, as provided for under Section 32 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993, concerning the performance of the IAA in carrying out its functions under the Act.