Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister and his officials for coming before the committee. I will start where the Minister ended and acknowledge the very fine work our Defence Forces carry out, in particular those who serve abroad on various UN missions. Given it is December I will take the opportunity to wish them all a very happy Christmas.

With regard to the funding of the 9,500 members, I wish to mention a group of 800 in the Air Corps, some of whom I met last week with the Chairman and Deputy Mac Lochlainn at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. It was a very interesting visit with the brigadier general and his colonels which showcased the excellent work they do with some very fine equipment. I could not get over the relatively young age profile of the equipment they use, with the exception of the Cessna aircraft which is a discussion for another day. I was very impressed with the professionalism and display put on for us during a two and a half hour visit. It was an eye-o pening experience for me. I had been in Casement Aerodrome as a child back in the 1980s when the aeronautical displays used to take place with the Swallow aircraft among others but this has not happened in a while. Seeing the Air Corps operate, and the Garda Síochána helicopter unit which is also based there, was a great experience and the Chairman, Deputy Mac Lochlainn and I greatly enjoyed our brief visit. I wish to take this opportunity to mention it and commend them on their stellar service to the State.