Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses very much for coming in. My comments are directed at the full team and the volunteers. Something that is important to me is "the world with you versus the world without you". What that means is that the Coast Guard makes a significant difference to me. There is a big difference between the country with them versus the country without them. I know two or three people who benefitted from the Coast Guard's work. It is very significant.

There is nothing more valuable than to be involved in work that makes a real difference to people. As they say in America, we have first responders before us. I have great admiration and respect for what Mr. Clonan and his team do.

My questions will be somewhat in the same space as Deputy Catherine Murphy's, but they will primarily relate to an area about which I know a little, that being the search and rescue helicopter service. Who has that contract? Who were the successful tenderers for the contract in the past 20 years? What is the overall value of the contract?

A Sikorsky helicopter is the type used. It is a fine helicopter and Canadian and American manufactured. Indeed, I believe it is the only type of helicopter that has been used for search and rescue operations in Ireland. In the majority of countries around the world, though, a European helicopter, the AgustaWestland AW139, is used. Why was it not considered? I do not have all of the details on me, but from memory of one of the tenders, the Agusta did not meet all of the pre-qualifying criteria. It has just over five hours of endurance and a range of 659 miles or 660 miles, but the one criterion it did not meet shot its tender out of the water. If I am right, that level of competition is very important.

I would also like to get a sense of the annual budget and what percentage of it the search and rescue helicopters cost. According to Mr. Clonan's presentation, they flew 665 missions in 2018. How much did each mission cost?

I am not promoting AgustaWestland at all and have no relationship with any of those companies. I have some peripheral engagement with the Air Corps, though, and it bought six Agustas in 2006. By creating alternative win-win situations, there might be a way whereby we can be more effective, including cost effective, while continuing to do the Coast Guard's amazing work. I am just asking questions that are intended to be outside the box to some degree.