Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is amazing how time flies. Next week is the anniversary of a useful exchange the Tánaiste and I had in the Dáil Chamber in Leinster House during a debate on the lack of strategic airlift capability in this country. I remember being quite heartened by the Tánaiste's response at the time. He specifically said:

Military air transport is a real weakness for us. We are unusual as a country, in that we cannot get to our own troops in Lebanon or in Mali. We rely on commercial aircraft or the defence forces of other countries. That works, but it is suboptimal in my view.

The Tánaiste then went on to say he would get the Chief of Staff to make policy proposals and give formal advice to his office on how best to proceed with this proposed project. Now that a year has passed it is prudent that we should review any progress in this regard because, on the surface at least, there does not appear to have been any major events, bar the pandemic. We have had difficulty getting PPE into the country, we have had troops and citizens stranded overseas and Ireland is transporting a lot of oxygen and oxygen equipment to India, which is a fantastic thing to do. Also, by year end, it is likely that if we have surplus vaccines, we will be transporting them to resource poor countries all over the world.

As an island nation in particular and as a sovereign state, the case that Ireland should have this sovereign independent autonomous capability is self-evident. It is particularly obvious this year because the cost of aircraft is on the floor. We could get a propeller-driven Airbus 295 type aircraft for less than €20 million if it is picked up second hand or almost new. That would represent massive savings for the taxpayer over time and we would not have to be chartering commercial aircraft on an ad hocbasis at very short notice.

Has the Chief of Staff furnished advice or recommendations to the Office of the Tánaiste? Is the Tánaiste prepared to publish the advice of the Chief of Staff for the benefit of the House so we can all see what is contained in it? Is the Government prepared to consider acquiring a strategic airlift aircraft before this year is out, if financial circumstances allow?

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