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

I get the Deputy's rationale. My approach as Minister for Defence is always to look at what the Defence Forces can do, whether they can do more and whether I can resource them to do more so that we can use the assets of the State and the skill sets of the Defence Forces in new areas. It is important to note on the record the quality of the SAR service we currently have in place. I have been winched up into helicopters on more than one occasion. Lives have been saved. The contribution the search and rescue operation that is currently in place has offered in recent years is of very high quality.

It is expensive but it is good value for money given the service that is provided. What is under consideration now is whether the skill set of the Defence Forces can be part of an overall new SAR contract and, if so, what would be the appropriate level of contribution. A range of issues must be considered in that regard by the Department of Transport, which has shown a real open mind on this. I do not want to overplay or overestimate the capacity of the Air Corps and Defence Forces in terms of the role they can play, but I certainly hope they play some role in contributing to the next search and rescue contract.

See this speech in context