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

I have made it very clear that we are going to do this but it is very complex work. I can confirm, as I said earlier, that the project team has been established, comprising senior civil and military personnel. It has initially focused on looking at identifying the military radar requirements across the land, air and sea domains. It has conducted research into various delivery options across the domains, as well as approaches to provision that are utilised internationally. I understand, as I said earlier, that a visit to another member state - it was Cyprus, in this case - has taken place. It is very difficult at this point in time to clarify where the radar sites are to be located. As I said, we have to have regard to emerging priorities, operational requirements and changes in technology. We have to consider all that in the first instance before getting into detailed planning on site locations. It would be very premature to speculate on that; likewise in terms of capability cost. We will also need specialist external expertise relating to all the issues that I have referenced. Any cost estimates the Deputy is reading or hearing about are totally and purely speculative. It will be an expensive capability to deliver and maintain. Obviously, we will have to go through the full rigor of the public spending code. However, there is no doubt that it is a fundamental prerequisite in terms of what we require and the level of ambition that has been identified in the commission's report and accepted.

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