Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I can assure the Deputy and the House that I am fully aware of the audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General into the leasing of helicopters by the Defence Forces for Chad and I am advised that the findings of the report have been accepted in full by my Department.

The findings outlined by the Comptroller and Auditor General are broadly in line with the findings of the investigation carried out by the internal audit unit of the Department of Defence, which was finalised in February 2009.

It is important to take into account the overall context in which the issues regarding the contracting of the helicopters occurred. The deployment and sustainment of the Defence Forces contingent to Chad was the most challenging logistics project ever undertaken by the Defence Forces. The unprecedented extent and nature of the deployment meant that the project was a very important learning exercise for the Defence Forces. Overall, the very difficult task of deploying and sustaining the Irish Battalion has been accomplished in a very professional manner.

Given the remoteness of the Irish Battalion's base in Goz Beida, the absence of a road infrastructure, the isolation anticipated during the rainy season and the considerable distance from the nearest hospital, the need for comprehensive helicopter support was recognised from the outset.

The authority to procure air support for the Defence Forces, including helicopters, was delegated to the Chief of Staff. A contract was signed by the Defence Forces at the end of May 2008 with a UK company, Air Partner, for the charter of two Mi-8T helicopters for use in Chad. The two civilian registered helicopters arrived in theatre in Chad on 28 June 2008. The contract duration was originally scheduled for ten months and was subsequently extended by a further six months.

In late September 2008, a question arose on the certification of these helicopters for transport of passengers. On further investigation, it was discovered that the helicopters were classified as cargo carrying only in the air operator certificate. The issue was a regulatory and licensing issue relating to civilian registered helicopters and did not reflect in any way on the safety, technical or operational capacity of the helicopters.

Pending the resolution of the matter, the helicopters were restricted to cargo transport only for a period of time. The certification matter was resolved when the company replaced the helicopters with two other helicopters, which were appropriately certified at no additional cost to the Department. The new helicopters became operational in January 2009.

In purely operational terms, the contracted helicopters performed well in service and provided vital support to the Defence Forces. The requirement for the helicopters was very much a real one. Even when their use was temporarily restricted in 2008 while the certification issue was being resolved, the helicopters continued to fill an important role by providing logistic support. They remained available as emergency cover for casualty evacuation. They continued, therefore, to provide an essential capability throughout the period.

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