Feargal Quinn (Independent)

A few weeks ago, I and many others watched as a helicopter performed an efficient rescue off Howth Head, during which a stretcher was dropped to a person who had been injured on the cliffs. I was very impressed by the crew's ability. The reason I mention this incident is that I understand a rescue helicopter must first load up before travelling to a hospital to collect a medical team and flying to the site of an accident to carry out a rescue attempt.

Last week, my attention was drawn to the rescue of a man called Richard Hammond in Britain. Mr. Hammond, the presenter of the "Top Gear" programme on the BBC, was rescued by an air ambulance. Afterwards, his wife asked that those who wished to send flowers to the hospital should instead send donations to the air ambulance services in Britain, of which there are eight. I was surprised to learn that these services are primarily supported by charity.

Ireland does not have an air ambulance service. If Senator Brian Hayes's request that the Minister for Transport come to the House to discuss air services is acceded to, it would present a useful opportunity to determine whether the Government is in a position to operate an air ambulance service similar to those in operation around Britain. If it is true that an air ambulance must first load up on equipment and collect a doctor from a hospital before attending the site of an accident, it clearly reduces its rescue ability. I intend to raise this matter during any debate the House may have on air services.

Yesterday, I watched a television interview with Richard Branson on the volume of fuel used by aeroplanes. He pointed out that considerable fuel savings would be achieved if the common practice of switching on aeroplanes' engines and taxiing them on to runways up to 40 minutes before take-off were to cease and aeroplanes were instead towed onto runways. This is a good idea.

Mr. Branson also made the point that air traffic control in the United States is centralised in one authority, whereas almost every country in Europe has its own air traffic control system. I understand centralisation of air traffic control in Europe would eliminate the requirement to have aeroplanes circle around airports. Returning from Brussels last week, the aeroplane on which I flew circled Dublin Airport for 20 minutes. I spoke to someone whose aeroplane had circled for 25 minutes on arrival from Nantes. Perhaps last week was a particularly busy one. Centralisation rather than the principle of subsidiarity should apply to this function.