Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra sin. I welcome very much the fact that the product team has been put in place, and that the Minister has asked for a more certain timeline in the delivery of that equipment. I believe it will be the first time an Irish Government will buy that sort of equipment. Perhaps the Minister will speak a little bit as to how the Minister is keeping value for money at top of his mind and what is the approach being taken to procurement to ensure that the equipment we purchase is adequate for our needs and also ensures value for the taxpayer. I thank the Minister for the information relating to the acquisition of the multirole vessel. I will be watching that with interest.

I welcome the delivery later on this year of the Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft. Airlift capacity is something that we need to make sure we are not reliant on friends and neighbours for delivery of our citizens wherever they may be in whatever trouble spots around the world.

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