Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fully appreciate how limited and restricted the Minister is in his comments. The key final point I wish to get across is that this contract could be an enormous contract, worth up to €1 billion over ten years, which is the equivalent of half a children's hospital, but without having a children's hospital or even half a children's hospital to show for it. My specific recommendations are that, where possible, we should invest in our public service first and foremost. We should try to keep the money of Irish taxpayers in Ireland. Instead of assisting international helicopter leasing companies, we should focus on providing for and resourcing our own services first and then outsource what it is not possible for them to provide.

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