Declan Fitzpatrick has been formally appointed Ireland’s aviation regulator – or chief executive of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) – on a permanent basis.
Mr Fitzpatrick has been in the role, on an interim basis, since last October. At that point, Mr Fitzpatrick – who has been with the IAA for 16 years, and most recently served as its head of regulatory performance and innovation – took over from former chief executive Diarmuid Ó Conghaile, who left to take over Wizz Air Malta.
Minister Ryan said: “I wish to congratulate Mr Fitzpatrick on his appointment and wish him well in the role. Mr Fitzpatrick will be chief executive of Ireland’s newly consolidated Aviation Regulator, responsible for safety, security, economic and consumer protection functions.”
The Minister said that it is “vital that Ireland’s regulatory arrangements are robust and responsive to the many challenges facing the aviation sector.”
“Securing Ireland’s international reputation as being to the forefront of regulatory high standards will be central to the new Aviation Regulator’s role,” the Department said.
The Government is creating a single national aviation regulator by merging the aviation and security regulatory functions of the IAA with the economic and consumer protection functions of the Commission for Aviation Regulation. All of those functions will come under the umbrella of the IAA.
The IAA’s existing for-profit air navigation services function will be established as a standalone commercial semi-State body the Irish Air Navigation Service also to be known as AirNav Ireland.
