Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome some of the Senators' comments. I recognise that Senator McFadden did not come into the House to start jumping up and down on this issue. She tabled a Commencement matter which I was able to answer. Senator Wilson spoke about lives being put at risk. Lives are not being put at risk because we have put a contingency plan in place to make sure lives will not be put at risk.

I should have said at the outset that I have never been dragged into this House previously, and I assure Senators I will not be dragged in to this House in the future because I have respect for them. When they say they are sorry for dragging me in, it says a lot about the personnel using that sort of language because this House is accountable to the people and, like any Minister, I am accountable to the people. The Leader asked me to come in and I have no issue whatsoever in responding to that request.

If Senators are making statements, they should always make sure they have the correct facts in front of them. Senator Craughwell has incorrect facts once again. The ICRR has two helicopters. One is based in Cork and will continue to be based there, the second will be based in Roscommon for four days a month between November and February.