That should be a matter for the committee.

If this goes back to the committee, not only will committee members have access to all the actors involved but there would be an opportunity for all agencies involved to come in and make their points. It would be up to the committee to decide whether it would recommend changes. I will stick to my guns on this and ask that the debate be adjourned for another day.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: recognises that: - the Department of Transport is responsible for maritime and aeronautical search and rescue services policy in Ireland; - the Department of Transport is responsible for ensuring that a National Search and Rescue Plan is established and fit for purpose; - search and rescue policy is implemented by the Irish Coast Guard as the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordinator and by the Irish Aviation Authority as the aeronautical Search and Rescue Coordinator; acknowledges that: -…

The Department has informed him often enough of my utterances.

Okay. The critique was sent back to the Air Corps for comment, and it is my understanding that it was comprehensively rebutted. I have asked for the submission, critique and rebuttal, and the business case, to be made available to me, but to date I have received none of them. However, I am confident that when these documents are published I will be vindicated for the position I have taken. It is important to put on the record of the House the comments of the general officer commanding of the Air Corps regarding SAR…

Provided it does not cost me time.

No, these are my words.

The business case compared the cost of a commercial operator akin to the current service and a service supported by the Air Corps. In every choice available, the commercial costs were trimmed and the Air Corps costs were increased. For example, the commercial aircraft were made smaller and cheaper in the business case than the current S-92 helicopter, while the Air Corps helicopter was made bigger and more expensive. It was not allowed to use the current AW139 helicopters, despite the fact they are used in SAR all …

I have not been provided with a copy of the amendment.

It is interesting that, while a number of Senators have said that I have provided information during this debate that was factually inaccurate, they have not provided any evidence of those inaccuracies. I would love for them to specify what they are. The Committee of Public Accounts was mentioned. It is interesting to note that it and the Comptroller and Auditor General carry out retrospective analyses of badly planned and badly implemented public procurement. We never have a chance to do the job we are supposed to…

I did not interrupt the Senators.

He may ask his question.

We are in the pre-tendering process, so there is no difficulty whatsoever in calling these matters out. My colleague Senator Cummins adverted to the fact that I put out a tweet about Waterford Airport. He stood 100% behind the Government during the debate in 2021 - everything was going to be fine and grand, and we should trust the Government. The Government published a PQQ that would see one base go and the general consensus was that that would be Waterford. Thanks to my colleague Deputy Shanahan----

I know what he is going to ask, but he can fire away.

It was put out for three bases and one fixed wing.

I am going to continue now.

Thank you.

Senator Cummins mentioned my tweet, which led to Deputy Shanahan initially and then Deputy Verona Murphy immediately raising concerns in the south east. Deputy Cullinane then called a meeting of all elected representatives in the south east. It is my belief that my tweet led to that happening and to the securing of R117 at Waterford Airport. Senator Cummins was out on the radio two or three days afterwards talking about how he had saved the base.

If the Senator did save the base, I am delighted, but I did not hear anything from him over the past two years while we were discussing it.

Senator Ward spoke about how the civilian SAR provider is subject to such great regulation while the military is not. First and foremost, the military is involved in SAR all day, every day. That is what it does.