the Irish CAA have a well deserved reputation for "flexible" regulations.
Ain't that the truth. The key to understanding the situtation to understand the connection between the management of the airlines and the IAA. All ex-Air Corps, all buddy buddies. In this particular case, the fact that one the key Sigmar figures is also ex-IAA and currently of Cityjet would no doubt be contributory. Rumour in Dublin also has it that Sigmar, and not Cityjet, own the new RJ's and are in turn leasing them to cityjet. Apparently the top dogs in cityjet also own sigmar. Nice little set up methinks.