asked the Minister for Defence if he will assign one helicopter to the Naval Service on a full-time basis.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Service Helicopter.
33.
It is not proposed to assign a helicopter on a full-time basis to the Naval Service.
I would ask the Minister to reconsider this matter because there is an urgent need for a helicopter in this area.
The position is that helicopters must be serviced at Baldonnel. They are easily moved from one part of the country to another. The helicopters we have at the moment have certain limitations with regard to fishery protection and work with the Naval Service in connection with this work. The helicopters cannot fly at night and at the moment I am investigating whether a navigational system can be installed so that at least one or two helicopters might be flown at night both for fishery protection and also for the removal of patients from islands. That investigation is not complete as yet. At the moment the best course is to have the helicopters available—usually at Finner and Baldonnel—to be sent to the Naval Service as required.
Surely the Minister does not find night flying a problem with regard to the helicopters? Is it not obvious that this problem has been overcome by the occupation forces in the Six Counties?
I have no knowledge of that.