Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome that delivery as well because we have to be cognisant of the fact that all too often the evacuation is required of our citizens from certain parts of the world. It is becoming a much more frequent occurrence and while we have great partners, we are proud members of the European Union and we have great friends, we also have an obligation to be in a position to assist our own citizens. Some of the significant investments we are making in our Air Corps will make a real and meaningful difference in that.

I assure the Deputy with regard to the work that has been done on radar and the systems. We are absolutely endeavouring to secure the normal value for money and business cases and procurement processes, and all the other things that the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform quite rightly make us follow. To ensure value for money for the taxpayer these will absolutely be to the fore of our consideration and to the group that are working on it. As the Minister for Defence, the most important and urgent thing to the fore of my mind would be making sure we can get our hands on this as quickly as possible.

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