Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

If a call came now, at 12.20 p.m., the answer is "Yes". The Department of Defence has an agreement with the HSE to supply that transport. However, who knows whether there might be unfortunate circumstances where an air-sea rescue might be taking place at a particular time and helicopters might be involved in that.

There are two challenges here. One is a shortage of pilots. Some have retired and some have gone to other employment. We do not have control over that. The second is the air traffic controllers. Given the technology, it is possible to carry out air traffic control from different locations. There are 28 cadets currently in training who will become pilots who are able to fly both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In the meantime, outside the hours I have mentioned, we must use either the Coast Guard, the Custume Barracks emergency aeromedical support or private enterprise. The important matter is that if a call comes for a patient, be they an adult or child, a service will be provided.

This was brought to my attention at the weekend and I have asked for a report from the Department of Defence. I am the Minister for Defence, but I have given statutory responsibility for many areas in the Department to the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe. He is meeting the Minister for Health and as soon as I have that report-----

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