Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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219. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the Air Corps and Naval Service continue to co-operate in air and sea rescue missions; the availability of adequate trained personnel to meet all contingencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44252/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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223. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which all military aircraft, fixed wing and helicopters, remain available and in operational order to the Air Corps in the event of emergency and search and rescue operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44256/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 223 together.

My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.

As the Deputy will be aware, theDefence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks including supporting the Irish Coast Guard. With particular reference to Search and Rescue, since 2004 the Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. Both the Naval Service and the Air Corps continue to provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis in line with a Service Level Agreement which sets out their roles and responsibilities in this regard. The Defence Organisation will continue to provide air and sea support, as available, to the Irish Coast Guard in respect of Coast Guard search and rescue operations.

I am satisfied that the resources are available to the Defence Forces, to enable the fulfilment of all roles assigned by Government.