asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Air Corps are adequately equipped to carry out long range rescue missions at sea and if he will outline his proposals to improve the present situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sea Rescue Service.
36.
The Air Corps are one of the agencies available to assist in rescue missions at sea. They have a substantial search capability utilising radar-equipped Beech King-Air and Hawker Siddley aircraft. The Allouette III helicopters provide an inshore rescue capability but being single-engined do not normally operate out of sight of land. The helicopter rescue capability will be considerably improved by the acquisition later this year of a twin-engined helicopter and by the coming into service of helicopter-carrying ships in 1982.
Does the Minister not agree it is rather disturbing to see the number of British aircraft used in our search-and-rescue missions? More than 10 per cent of that work is done by British aircraft.
As I pointed out to the Deputy, we have a substantial search capability ourselves. We are always glad to get help from any other source.
The only reason we get help is that we have not the equipment to deal with the problem. I am asking the Minister when we will be equipped to deal with such matters on our own and not to depend on British aircraft.
We are not dependent on British aircraft but we get help from them just as we give help to any other country in close proximity to us who need it. The helicopter rescue service will be considerably improved by the acquisition later this year of a twin-engined helicopter and also by the coming into service in 1982 of helicopter-carrying ships.
Are we getting help from other authorities of a kind that we are not in a position to provide for ourselves?
In the case of air-sea rescue one cannot ever be certain that the services will be fully capable of carrying out any operation successfully.
But have we equipment equal to that available to other authorities from whom we seek help?
As I have pointed out, we have a substantial search capability which we are improving.
Are we seeking equipment of a type that we do not have ourselves?
The Deputy is aware that our helicopters are not capable of going——
That is the question.
The Deputy is ignoring the fact that we have other types of aircraft.
Can the Minister say——
We cannot remain all day on this question.
The Chair is being very strict today.
We have dealt with only 36 questions in almost two hours. Is that being strict?
Is it not the position that in the event of an emergency off our coast we would not have either the aeroplanes or the helicopters necessary for a rescue operation and that consequently, we would have to call on the RAF, as has happened in the past, to help us out? Neither helicopters nor aeroplanes can land at sea.
We must move on to the next question.
We have aeroplanes that can be utilised but in the event of a disaster at sea all countries try to contribute help.
The position is that we are not in a position to help in the event of a disaster.
That is not true.
(Interruptions.)
The next question has been called and the Minister must be allowed reply.
Is this not Question Time?
Yes, but all we are having is argument. The last question has been pursued sufficiently.
I wonder whether Deputy McEllistrim, Deputy de Valera or even the Taoiseach know that we depend to such an extent on British aircraft.
Deputy Harte is only trying to obstruct Question Time.