Vol. 405 No. 4
17 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Marine the number of marine search or rescue missions carried out by helicopters of the Air Corps during November and December 1990 and to date in 1991; the number of occasions on which the RAF had to be called in because of the Air Corps inability to respond; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
During the period in question Air Corps helicopters responded to 17 call-outs for marine search and rescue. On one of these occasions the Air Corps Dauphin helicopter was unable to complete the mission within the endurance of the helicopter due to severe swell, and had to abandon the rescue attempt. The mission was subsequently completed by an RAF Seaking.
On three other occasions the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre, MRCC, asked the RAF to carry out marine search and rescue missions in Irish waters because the missions were beyond the range of the Air Corps.
One one other occasion, the MRCC asked an RAF helicopter to carry out a mission off the Wexford coast which, although within the range of the Air Corps Dauphin helicopter, was geographically much closer to the RAF base.
I make that five occasions on which the RAF service was sought. In reply to an earlier question the Minister said that the new arrangements for search and rescue would commence during the summer of 1991. May I ask him if those arrangements will be sufficient in future to deal with the range which was required to invite in the RAF, so that we will not have to depend on their services? Second, when will the 24 hour service be introduced? I understand that the service to be introduced in the summer is only the day time service. When does the Minister intend to introduce——
Sorry to interrupt the Deputy but this question is essentially statistical. Matters of policy do not therefore arise now.
The number of rescues in which the RAF involve themselves seems to be extremely high. Have the Government acknowledged the service being provided by the RAF in this regard and have they thanked them publicly?
The Deputy has a question down about that matter which will be answered later.
We are not going to get to it.
He is anticipating that we will not reach it. There were 17 call-outs of the Dauphin. I can put on the record that we are more than grateful to the Royal Air Force. Co-operation is good, and that sentiment has been expressed frequently and openly.
Is there truth in the reports that when RAF helicopter crews who have carried out the most perilous missions land in Cork or Shannon airports to refuel, with survivors, or with people whom they have rescued, they have to be given protection by the armed forces of this country because of threats by subversive organisations?
Order, the Deputy is entering into other areas of policy. That does not arise now.
Is that true?
I do not believe it is true. I have no information to that effect.
If it is true, it is a disgrace.
I do not believe it is true.
I have said this is a statistical question and it remains so as far as the Chair is concerned.
Would the Minister agree that the inability of the Air Corps to carry out these functions was due to their equipment rather than to a lack of skill?
The reason the Dauphin was unable to fly is that its range is limited. The new medium helicopter will cover the full range.
Is there a cost to the State when the RAF are involved in rescue operations?
There is not.
When does the Minister expect that the involvement of the RAF in rescue operations will be reduced to zero? Will the measures he announced in reply to an earlier question be sufficient to enable that to happen?
That will be the case from the summer of 1991, but there is a possibility, as I outlined in my reply, that, for example, a rescue would have to be effected quite near the Royal Air Force and co-operation between our Air Corps and the Royal Air Force is so good that it is quite possible that the Royal Air Force might be employed for a rescue operation that is nearer to them, and vice versa.
