Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their comments. I will convey their best wishes to the consular staff, diplomats and members of our Defence Forces working in Djibouti, Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan in the co-ordination of this.

The first comment I would make in regard to this crisis and future crises is that we will always be part of a pan-European response. That is the benefit of being in the European Union. Much depends on who is strongest on the ground in given situations. The French would have been strong in Sudan, with bases in that jurisdiction. A mistaken and misplaced view was expressed in recent days that somehow we could just fly a plane into Khartoum but that would never have been a consideration. That said, there is a necessity for a stronger strategic capability and we have signed contracts with Airbus in that regard but obviously that will take time. The plane has to be built, delivered and so on. We also have two maritime aircraft which will come on stream in June which can be reconfigured for strategic airlift capability.

We already had its procurement in train through the procurement process. Its most immediate value would be in getting our own personnel out to the adjacent location, Djibouti for instance, more quickly than is currently the case, in order that they can co-ordinate better. That would be the first initial value in strategic capability, and then directly to evacuate people, working with other countries. I also believe in, and am exploring, being part of a broader EU approach. There are some programmes in Europe whereby countries come together and combine resources in regard to strategic airlift capability. That would not take from our own indigenous efforts to strengthen our own capabilities. It would be part of and contributing to a wider European approach.

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