Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

Committee on Defence and National Security

Recent Air Corps Developments: Discussion

2:00 am

Mr. Rory O'Connor:

Our primary role is the defence of the State. We are the Defence Forces. We have other aid to civil authority and civil power roles as well. While there are some synergies, it is not always as clear. There may be something in operating out of the same facility, as the Deputy mentioned in his question.

My job is that I am the air component commander for this State. I have responsibility for the 450,000 sq. km of airspace over Ireland and its maritime domain, so that is the priority piece. At some stage in the future, yes that service may be there but as we move forward with the establishment of an air force, developing on the Commission on the Defence Forces piece that has already been mentioned, that is going to be the priority for us in terms of developing capabilities on both the manned and uncrewed side of that piece to ensure the defence of Ireland. As everyone is well aware, the world has changed in the past couple of years and that is the priority piece. What may lay out in the future is speculation at this stage.

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