Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister for a while and I know him to be a decent, honest and forthright man. That does not equate with the Eamon Ryan who has just spoken now. We have a situation where this is a contract that is already in place. Helicopters are flying patients from the Aran Islands into Galway.

I am being told by whistleblowers that the cost to the State is astronomical. If that is true, this committee has a right to know. I am being told that every training flight that takes place is being billed to the State. The Minister said we are in the middle of the next contract. Surely to God, if we made a total foul-up of the last one, we should get the next one right. Does the Minister agree?