andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether in view of the usefulness of helicopters generally and especially in view of their importance for rescue work he will consider, in conjunction with other Departments, the purchase of at least four such aircraft.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Helicopters.
18.
I would refer the Deputy to a reply which I gave to a similar question on the 23rd February, 1961. The position remains unchanged.
Is the Minister serious in suggesting the Government are not now in a position to purchase at least four helicopters for necessary rescue work around the coasts in view of the fact that I have here a photograph of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Commerce about to board a helicopter to inspect traffic problems in the city of Dublin? Surely it is more important to make a helicopter available to rescue people off islands, to bring the sick to hospital rather than to enable the Parliamentary Secretary to fly over the city of Dublin.
That is not relevant.
The Minister should consider purchasing these helicopters. He would need one of them to get into Monaghan having taken up all the railway lines.
All this matter has been investigated. I gave a very full report on the last occasion such a question was asked. It has been found that in no case over many years would a helicopter have been useful in saving life on the occasion of a disaster at sea around our coasts. That position still obtains.
Has the Minister had any further discussion with the Minister for Defence seeing that helicopters have now been found to be most useful for various purposes in Army service and that these helicopters, if purchased by the Department of Defence in conjunction with the Department of Industry and Commerce, could be used to replace these obsolete jet planes on which £500,000 has been spent?
The Deputy is making an argument, not asking a question.
Is it not more desirable to buy helicopters than jet planes?
No. 19.
I would like the Minister to answer whether he is prepared to have consultations with his colleague the Minister for Defence.