Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his very supportive and useful comments. When Roscommon hospital was closed down in 2013 and there was a need to establish a medevac helicopter in Athlone, the Air Corps was tasked with providing this aeromedical emergency service. It has been providing that service successfully for the past ten years. It did not go out to contract; the Air Corps was just tasked with doing it. When a Garda air support unit was needed in the late 1990s, that did not go out to contract; the Air Corps was just tasked with providing the service. Not only was it tasked with doing so, it was actually resourced to do so. Two helicopters were purchased and, as all present are aware, those helicopters are still flying in the air over Dublin. That model is a good one. We should identify what component of the service the Air Corps can look after and then task and resource it accordingly. Any part of the service that cannot be provided by the Air Corps should be outsourced to a civilian contractor. I would be grateful for the views of the Minister on this issue.

See this speech in context