MINISTER FOR Transport Noel Dempsey has no plans to introduce armed "sky marshals" on Irish airlines such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus, despite new EU regulations allowing for such measures which were passed by the European Parliament yesterday.
But he has not ruled out their introduction should they be deemed necessary by a Government Aviation Security Committee. Under the regulations, which are due to take effect within two years, inflight security measures, including the introduction of security officers, or "sky marshals", are addressed on a Europe-wide level for the first time. But it is up to individual member states to decide whether or not to deploy such marshals. Their deployment would also be subject to strict rules.
A spokesman for the Minister said his department was aware that some states have developed and implemented a policy on the employment of in-flight security personnel. "Ireland has not implemented such a policy for Irish airlines," he said.
"However, the issue of deployment of armed personnel on board Irish registered aircraft is kept under continuous review by the National Civil Aviation Security Committee, which is chaired by an official from the Department of Transport."
Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins, a member of the parliament's transport committee, welcomed the outcome of yesterday's vote. However, he said he would be opposed to the introduction of sky marshals on Irish airlines, partly due to the "paranoia" this might create.
"If you have an unarmed police force, such as an Garda Síochána, how can we then sanction armed non-police sky marshals?" he said.
The passing of the regulations yesterday follows a deal struck between the EU Parliament and EU Council representatives at the beginning of January, after they entered into conciliation talks. The wide-ranging regulations were approved by MEP's by a margin of 583 votes in favour, 21 against with 35 abstentions. They lay down common rules and standards for aviation security among EU member states.
These include the screening of passengers and cabin baggage, control of access, screening of hold baggage, aircraft security checks, security controls for cargo and mail, staff recruitment and training as well as patrols and other physical controls. But there was no agreement between the EU Parliament and EU Council on who should pay for different areas of aviation security.