Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, join all my colleagues in thanking Martin Groves and his staff for their professionalism and their support at times when we need it. I think we all echo that.

We are entering into an electoral cycle. I wish all my colleagues well as they go forward for election. Many of our colleagues have been hounded out of office by disinformation and misinformation and by the venom that is expressed on social media in this country. I ask candidates who are being hounded out of office or as they run for election to call out these cheats and tramps who would damage their reputation and to walk forward with pride. I have not met anyone in this House who I would not be proud to stand behind and stand beside, irrespective of their party allegiance. Most people I know in the Oireachtas are people who want the best for this country.

I ask the party members to impress on their party officials the need for a full-time Minister for defence and security services in the next Dáil. There is a wonderful article by Jackie King in the Business Post about Ireland needing to take defence seriously. I ask people to look at that.

I have been on about search and rescue for I do not know how many years. Yesterday I was advised that the helicopter that is flying around Ireland as the new contract helicopter does not have a working infrared camera on it and the mission control system has not been installed. The contractor has now contracted CHC to run for an additional month with a provision to run until June next year. It is not ready to start the contract. It has missed the start-up date and I understand it is in no position to start the transfer system. I ask that the Minister consider extending CHC until June next year and reappraising the capacity of the company that has been awarded the contract to actually fulfil it. I believe it is in serious trouble and there are serious industrial relations issues coming down the road.