Gardai to meet Govt officials over sky marshall request

Officials from the Department of Transport will meet with senior gardaí this week to discuss a request by the US government that some flights between Ireland and the US carry armed security personnel.

A letter informing the Government of the new regulations was received today. The new measures which require armed-law enforcement officers to be on board a flight considered at risk of attack were introduced by US Department of Homeland Security yesterday.

Discussions between the Department of Transport and the gardaí will cover a number of areas including the capability of garda members to carry out such a role and whether additional training would be required.

If the measures are introduced on flights connecting the US and Ireland pilots believe a change in the legislation may be required, according to Capt Conor Nolan, director of safety with the Irish Airline Pilots Association.

Under current legislation the pilot has ultimate responsibility for the passengers and crew on an aircraft.

"We will have to be clear what the roles are. If an air marshal is on board and carries out an action resulting in a passenger or crew member being hurt or killed, under current legislation the pilot is responsible," he said.

According to the Irish Aviation Authority Order, 2002, the "pilot-in-command of an aircraft shall also be responsible for the following-(a) the safety of all crew members, passengers and cargo on board when the doors are closed and, for an aeroplane, its operation and safety from the
moment it is ready to move for the purpose of taking off until the moment it finally comes to rest at the end of the flight".

Capt Nolan said while safety was a primary concern of pilots any move must be considered in the context of current legislation. There are a number of issues with this plan, including how such marshals will be selected or screened, how they integrate with the crew and whether the pilot will be informed that a marshal is on board.

Pilots, he said, would prefer if security resources were focused on measures taken on the ground "and that these measures were watertight".

A spokesman for the Department of Transport said different parties in the National Civil Aviation Security Committee would begin informal meetings on the issue over the next few days with a meeting of the committee expected to be held next week.