Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They are well able and independently able to work in the organisation.

Direct entry and re-entry is something of my own initiative. I spoke about this in February or March and I stated I wanted this to be a priority. The terms and conditions are being worked on regarding re-entry. There are officers who have retired from the Defence Forces, such as pilots, explosive ordnance disposal personnel or engineers, who want to go back to the organisation. I am not saying there will be hundreds of them, but there are a number of them and I want to give them the opportunity to come back into the organisation. Terms and conditions are being worked on with the Defence Forces and the Department and they have to go back to the representative organisations. Let me state very clearly I will be making a decision on this myself if it is held up by any of the representative organisations. This is a priority. It is the right thing to do. Of course, people coming back in cannot come back in at the same level as their peers. They will have to come back in at a different level. I accept this has to be worked on, and it is being worked on as part of the terms and conditions being developed.

The Deputy spoke about the Air Corps not properly functioning. As recently as yesterday, I spoke to the general officer commanding the Air Corps about any issues he has. I have to say that even though it has huge challenges it is properly functioning. Huge capital investment has been made and extra investment is being planned. There are two classes of apprentice military aircraft technicians and approximately ten began training this year. Ten cadet pilots began their training in October. Other cadet classes are in training. Five cadet pilots received their wings in October. Options on the provision of air traffic control services in the long term are being considered by a civil military working group to ensure their sustainability.

The Deputy spoke about top cover and Rescue 116. I want to be very careful. There is an agreement that on an available basis only we provide top cover to the Coast Guard. Let me state this is totally on the basis of being available. The loss of Rescue 116 was a shock for us all. I send our deepest sympathies to all those involved. Investigations are ongoing and I do not want to go into it. The agreement we have with the Irish Coast Guard is on the basis of being available only, and that is the way it is.

I am not aware of any naval vessel that is not operational at present. Huge capital investment has been made to the Naval Service over the past three or four years. In the worst recession in the history of the State, we are awaiting the delivery of a fourth ship. The flag officer commanding the Naval Service has not come to me, and neither has the Chief of Staff, to state they are unable to operate the full flotilla. They are able to carry out all of their duties asked of them by the Government, such as sea fisheries. Recently, we became fully fledged members of Operation Sofia. All vessels are fully operational. I am the first to state the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Army have challenges, but I have not been told they are unable to carry out their full duties asked of them in the White Paper on Defence of 2015.