Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to acknowledge the officials who sit here for hours and hours on end, providing briefs to Ministers, listening to what has been said and bringing that back to their Department. That is how amendments get made and brought here. I would like to acknowledge their presence here and thank them for the work they do. It would be remiss of me not to thank the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, IALPA, for its engagement with all of us and its genuine concern for its members. I particularly mention Captain Cullen, who has been outstanding in the way in which he has engaged with me over the past couple of years on this Bill. He, like myself and Senator Doherty, only wanted the best for his members. As a former leader of a trade union, I can fully understand that.

I thank the Minister of State her patience. I know this was deeply frustrating and difficult for her. We are both county people who share the same county. I acknowledge the work she has done and the way she has come along with this Bill. I thank her for that, because there is a genuineness about what she has done and I appreciate that.

I cannot close without going back to our search and rescue, SAR. I appeal to the Minister of State and her officials to engage with me on the forthcoming SAR contract. It is simply not good enough to say it is already in black and white and we cannot do anything about it. The United Kingdom has gotten 18 helicopters on 12 bases for €1.6 billion. We can do an awful lot better in this country for its citizens. Hiding behind legislation or EU regulations or claiming that people are working for people who are participants in the tendering process is grossly unfair and highly insulting to me. My only wish is to get the best deal for Ireland, our pilots and crews. I will leave it at that.