Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Okay. The critique was sent back to the Air Corps for comment, and it is my understanding that it was comprehensively rebutted. I have asked for the submission, critique and rebuttal, and the business case, to be made available to me, but to date I have received none of them. However, I am confident that when these documents are published I will be vindicated for the position I have taken.

It is important to put on the record of the House the comments of the general officer commanding of the Air Corps regarding SAR. He said:

I feel obliged to reiterate concerns in relation to value for money given the potential significant duplication of resources and the duplication of tasks that will likely arise from two state agencies operating aircraft with similar capabilities.

Notwithstanding this, the Department moved forward with its flawed philosophy and presented a business case to the Cabinet which was approved in July 2021. I believe that the business case was manipulated to provide the desired outcome and, at worst, is a blatant effort to defraud Irish taxpayers. I wish to invite the Minister of State to reflect on the business case and consider certain questions which trouble me greatly, as they indicate a concerted effort to rule out any involvement from the Irish Air Corps. The business case compared the costs of a commercial company akin to the current service and a service supported by the Air Corps.