Brendan Howlin
Ceist:45 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the fixed wing aircraft operationally available to the Air Corps; the plans, if any, there are to provide modern aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/99]
Vol. 509 No. 4
45 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Defence the fixed wing aircraft operationally available to the Air Corps; the plans, if any, there are to provide modern aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/99]
48 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft in the Air Corps which are over 20 years old; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/99]
141 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft over 20 years old in the Air Corps. [20528/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 141 together.
46 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Defence if the 60mm mortar is still in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20493/99]
A court of inquiry was initiated immediately following an accident which occurred at Kilworth Firing Range on 9 December 1997 in which five Defence Forces personnel were injured, one seriously. The inquiry encompassed the findings of a military police investigation and a technical board of inquiry. Weapons handling training on the 60mm mortar continued but live firing for training purposes ceased pending completion of the aforementioned investigations. The report submitted to higher military authority gave rise to additional queries which could only be addressed by the reconvening of the court of inquiry and this was done. The report of the reconvened court of inquiry is currently being reviewed by the military authorities in order determine what, if any, changes to drills and procedures should be made in respect of live firing with the 60mm mortar on training exercises. Until this review is completed the military authorities have continued the suspension of live firing with the 60mm mortar.
49 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Defence the position of the tendering process for armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20574/99]
73 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the provision of new armoured personnel carriers for the Defence Forces; when the vehicles will come on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20442/99]
148 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the state of the tendering process for armoured personnel carriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20544/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 73 and 148 together.
I was pleased to announce recently that I had authorised the opening of negotiations between my Department and Mowag of Switzerland in regard to the completion of a contract for the supply of armoured personnel carriers to the Defence Forces. This followed the completion of the technical assessment of two vehicles selected by the Department to compete in the second stage of the competition which had been in progress since last year. Those negotiations are continuing with the purpose of defining the final technical specification to meet the Department's requirements and to establish the financial and other aspects of the proposed contract.