Vol. 399 No. 11
12 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence if he intends to implement the recommendations of the review groups on the air/sea rescue service, in regard to the stationing of Air Corps helicopters along the west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The final report of the review group on air/sea services has been submitted to the Minister for the Marine who, I understand, will be putting proposals to Government on the matter in the near future.
Am I to understand that the Minister has not yet seen the report?
I have seen the report but the responsible Minister is the Minister for the Marine who will be submitting proposals to the Government. I was represented on the commission, under the chairmanship of the former Garda Commissioner, Mr. Eamonn Doherty, who investigated the matter. They have completed their work. Their report is to hand and is being processed by the Minister for the Marine who will submit positive proposals to the Government who will then take the appropriate action on foot of those proposals.
Can the Minister give us any reasonable indication as to when the Government will make decisions on the report? I take it he is concerned that it is taking some considerable time — I will not use the word delay — to reach the Government. Having regard to the fact that his Department are involved, can the Minister inform us whether he has indicated the view of his Department to the proposal contained in the report that Air Corps resources should be stationed along the west coast?
The Department of Defence were represented on the commission to which I referred. The report of that commission is with the Minister for the Marine, Deputy Wilson, who will make proposals to the Government who will then make their decisions on foot of those. I am sure he will make the appropriate announcement fairly shortly.
What does the Minister mean by that?
I cannot be specific but perhaps within the next month or two.
As the Minister is aware, one of the recommendations is that not all of the air/sea rescue service should be under the control of the Air Corps but that parts of it should be hived off to what one might call the private sector. What is the Minister's opinion on that recommendation?
In the interests of collective Cabinet responsibility, to which I referred last night, I do not propose to outline what my view on the matter is. As I said, the report has not yet come before the Government and therefore I will not speculate on the outcome. I appreciate the Deputy's remarks.
While the Government will take the ultimate decision, the specific question I have sought to pursue on behalf of Deputy Sherlock is what the Minister's response is to certain proposals contained in the report. What is the Minister's response to the proposition that Defence Force resources should be stationed along the west coast?
The Deputy has already put that question very clearly. We are having repetition now.
I will make my point of view known at the appropriate time when the matter comes before Government.
