Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for outlining that detail. I understand that undersea capacity is being developed to conduct monitoring but, from the sound of it, it is not days, weeks or months away but will come in over a much longer timeframe. That is a concern. Is there an opportunity to expedite the delivery of that capacity? Is it the case that people need to be trained up or is it a matter of purchasing and deploying equipment? I understand that there is only so much the Minister will be able to say but it is important to clarify that point because quickly deploying the maximum subsea capacity is a significant issue.

On air support, I understand that aircraft are being replaced next year and that two replacement aircraft have been purchased, which are not due to arrive until sometime next year. Is there a way to arrange an overlap and to make them available to the services sooner so that there would be double the number of aircraft out there?

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