I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 70, 73, 74, 106 and 151 together.
Having considered the report of Price Waterhouse Management Consultants on the review of the Air Corps and the Naval Service, the Government decided that the future development of both the Air Corps and the Naval Service critically depends on the input of all of the relevant stakeholders. Given the cross-departmental nature of the State's air and sea requirements, key stakeholders include the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources as well as the Department of the Taoiseach and my own Department.
As Minister for Defence, I am ultimately responsible for the development of the Air Corps and the Naval Service. The task of putting together the necessary plans to give effect to the Government's decision on the recommendations made by Price Waterhouse will be addressed as a priority by the civil and military branches of my Department.
There are two broad dimensions to this work. First, there is the need to address the military capability requirements to be comprehended within the White Paper on defence which were not dealt with in the consultants' report. Second, there is a range of effectiveness and efficiency recommendations for implementation in order to ensure that the taxpayer obtains the best air and sea services possible. It will, in the final analysis, be the task of the General Officer Commanding, Air Corps and the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Service to present plans for my consideration to address all these matters.