Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I have no desire to get into the technical details either, but it might be useful to understand the criteria used in that particular contract period. As to the capabilities of the aircraft, again I am not going to get into the technical details. I am not aware of the AgustaWestland being used for search and rescue, SAR, in other jurisdictions. However, I may be incorrect in that assessment.

On the endurance of the aircraft, unless it is a new and modern aircraft with extended duration, I would have thought the S-92 would have been a more appropriate one. If we look at the aircraft used in the North Sea, they are virtually all S-92s - and I have been on one myself - or aircraft of that type whereas the AW 139 is not of that type. Again that is my own meagre knowledge of the capacity of that type of aircraft. If the Minister of State has time today, tomorrow or on Thursday morning, could he provide the committee, through the secretariat, with a short note on the capability question of the aircraft versus what we had? I presume the €18 million is capital and therefore may go to alteration and expansion of existing services within the four bases. I am thinking in particular about the viability of Waterford Airport. On behalf my good friend and colleague, Senator John Cummins, and, indeed, our ministerial colleague, I am asking about the future of the Waterford base and whether there might capacity for or a requirement for another base. I understand there are four aircraft with one in reserve. That is the old criteria. Is that still the case?