Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I would very much appreciate it being sent over in writing.

I will return to the issue of the night vision technology. Nobody reading chapter 5 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report will be able to put the crew of R116 out of their mind. When you read the timeline, there was a report in March 2010 outlining the Coast Guard SAR service should have night vision technology. The tender went out in 2012 and did not have night vision technology. The State then has to pay for the provision of night vision on what is essentially a private contract with a private operator. That has a cost to the State. That becomes available in 2015 but training does not become available until 2019 and the request for training does not go out until 2017. Why was the State paying for this service when it was tendering it out? Reflecting on the lack of availability and the fact both captains mentioned the poor night vision capability, has the Department reflected on that? Does it believe the tragic accident would have taken place had that night vision technology been available?