Minister Simon Coveney call for inquiry into Air Corps safety claims

An independent investigation has been ordered by Defence Minister Simon Coveney into allegations that some Air Corps inspectors are not qualified to certify the repairs and modifications carried out on the force’s aircraft.

The establishment of the investigation follows allegations made directly to the minister by a whistleblower.

The whistleblower has further alleged that information was withheld from an internal investigation into the claims, and that misleading information was submitted to this original inquiry. The unidentified complainant has also told the minister that they have been penalised for raising the matter.

The Department of Defence said that military authorities have assured Mr Coveney that there are no airworthiness issues arising from the allegations.

“The minister has received a disclosure, and follow up correspondence, which alleges that a number of Air Corps Aircraft Inspectors have authorisation to certify sheet metal repairs and modifications without the required qualifications or experience to do so,” the department said. “The minister has directed that an independent investigation by an external competent expert is to be carried out into these matters. The terms of reference for the review are currently being drafted.”

It is understood that the initial contact, which was made under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, made reference to the allegations surrounding the Air Corps Inspectors’ qualifications, and that in subsequent correspondences the whistleblower complained of being penalised for raising the matter internally.

“A number of allegations were made regarding misleading information being provided or being withheld during the internal investigation into the original allegations, and it was alleged that the individual was being penalised for making the disclosure,” the department said.

It said the independent investigation would look at the allegations surrounding the original internal inquiry.

“In relation to the allegations of penalisation, the individual in question has been advised that, in accordance with section 20 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the appropriate mechanism for members of the Defence Forces who feel they are being penalised for making a disclosure is to make a complaint directly to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces,” a statement from the department said.

The statutory body representing Army, Naval Service and Air Corps personnel said that if substantiated, the allegations would be a cause of concern for its members.

Gerry Rooney, general secretary of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) said that an independent investigation was an appropriate course of action given the nature of the allegations.

“If there are doubts around the qualification or competencies of the people doing what is pretty critical work, then it is correct that this should be investigated and of course it should be done independently,” said Mr Rooney, whose association represents more than 6,000 members.

“They do a crucial job and it is entirely correct that this should be held up to independent scrutiny,” he added.

Mr Coveney was unavailable for comment.

Last year the Air Corps completed 107 air ambulance missions, including 64 national and 47 international transfers of patients, as well as supporting the HSE National Ambulance service with 446 call outs. It also completed 253 regular maritime patrols of Irish waters, 19 high level patrols and 15 night time patrols of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Air Corps maintains dedicated crews on 24/7 standby to cover a number of services for the public.