Air Navigation Services Division

This Division has two main areas of work:

1. Air Navigation Policy.

The EU’s Single European Skies policy agenda is about ensuring that sovereign airspace across Europe is managed to ensure that the airline industry is able to grow, that delays to flights are minimised and that aircraft are able to take the most efficient flight path across the continent, thus reducing flight times and carbon emissions.

Irish airspace is an important part of the broader European network of sovereign airspace, acting as the gateway to Europe for Trans-Atlantic services. The Division is represents Ireland at EU and international level on all matters related to airspace.

The key bodies with which the Department has policy engagement on air navigation matters are the International Civil Aviation Organisation (UN), the European Commission (DG Move), Eurocontrol and the Irish Aviation Authority (Irish State company).

2. Aviation Legislation. The Division is also responsible for progressing legislation to give effect to aviation policy initiatives:

• The Air Navigation Transport Bill, 2019 will restructure and modernise the regulation and oversight of the aviation industry in Ireland.

• The Aviation Regulation (Amendment) Bill 2019 will update how the Commission for Aviation Regulation sets passenger charges at Dublin Airport.