Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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802. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the employment of Irish citizens as flight crew in the Irish Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7877/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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CHC Ireland, the company which provides the Search & Rescue helicopter service to the Irish Coast Guard is responsible for employment within its own company. From a safety point of view, the expectation is that CHC Ireland would employ the most qualified individual for any vacant position, irrespective of nationality. I understand from CHC Ireland that currently of the order of 79% of the employees are Irish nationals.