Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can assure the Deputy we recognise the existence of the Air Corps. We announced a permanent air ambulance service with the Health Service Executive just before this debate started. It is to be located, ironically, in a location that some people have expressed concerns about, concerns that, in my view, are not founded. I am more than aware of the role of the Air Corps and its professionalism and we want to invest in it and will be doing so in the years ahead. That is very much part of the White Paper process. Today, however, we are talking about the legal accuracy of legislation, which is a different matter. We are talking about whether or not we make a distinction between Army and Air Corps when it comes to ranks. The title in terms of legal accuracy is that this is Army ranks, which covers Air Corps and Army because the Air Corps is part of the Army. If the wording is changed to Army and Air Corps rank it distinguishes between the two, although they have the same ranking systems. That is the advice I have.

We should consider how we mention the role and specifics of the Air Corps in a broad review of the legislation and I am happy to have that discussion, whether at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, here, or in the Department but the advice I have is that the Deputy seeks to replace Army ranks with Army and a subsidiary of the Army in the same title. I understand the point about recognition of the Air Corps and the distinctive role it plays in the Defence Forces, which is separate from the Army, and I accept that absolutely. In terms of ranking structure they come under the one heading. The advice I have is that we should keep it that way.

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