Gerard P. Craughwell warns of SAR helicopter failures, urges action
Gerard P. Craughwell urged the Minister to extend the existing Search and Rescue helicopter contract with CHC and to reappraise the capacity of the awarded contractor. He also warned of misinformation and social media harassment during the electoral cycle and called for a full-time Minister for Defence and Security Services.
The Senator raised urgent problems with the new Search and Rescue helicopter contract, saying the aircraft currently flying does not have a working infrared camera and the mission control system has not been installed. He reported the contractor missed the start-up date and has arranged for CHC to continue operations for an additional month with a provision to run until June of next year.
He said the contractor is not ready to start the transfer system and appears unable to fulfil the contract on the agreed timetable, calling for the Minister to consider extending CHC until June and to reappraise the awarded company’s capacity. He also warned of looming IR issues and noted his long-standing advocacy on Search and Rescue matters.
Speaking as the electoral cycle begins, he thanked Martin Groves and staff for their professionalism and urged colleagues well as they campaign. He warned many public representatives have been hounded out of office by disinformation and venom on social media and urged candidates to call out those who damage reputations and to stand with pride behind their colleagues.
He asked party members to press party officials for a full-time Minister for Defence and Security Services in the next Oireachtas and referenced a recent Sunday Business Post article arguing Ireland must take defence seriously. Other speakers noted that creating a standalone Minister for Defence could require a new department and possibly constitutional change.
Search and Rescue concerns
The Senator raised urgent problems with the new Search and Rescue helicopter contract, saying the aircraft currently flying does not have a working infrared camera and the mission control system has not been installed. He reported the contractor missed the start-up date and has arranged for CHC to continue operations for an additional month with a provision to run until June of next year.
Contract capability and timeline
He said the contractor is not ready to start the transfer system and appears unable to fulfil the contract on the agreed timetable, calling for the Minister to consider extending CHC until June and to reappraise the awarded company’s capacity. He also warned of looming IR issues and noted his long-standing advocacy on Search and Rescue matters.
Electoral cycle and misinformation
Speaking as the electoral cycle begins, he thanked Martin Groves and staff for their professionalism and urged colleagues well as they campaign. He warned many public representatives have been hounded out of office by disinformation and venom on social media and urged candidates to call out those who damage reputations and to stand with pride behind their colleagues.
Call for a full-time Defence minister
He asked party members to press party officials for a full-time Minister for Defence and Security Services in the next Oireachtas and referenced a recent Sunday Business Post article arguing Ireland must take defence seriously. Other speakers noted that creating a standalone Minister for Defence could require a new department and possibly constitutional change.
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Transcript
I too would like to join with all of my colleagues in thanking Martin Groves and his staff for their professionalism and for their support at times when we need it and I think we'll all echo that. We're entering into an electoral cycle now and I wish all of my colleagues well as they go forward for election. I would say to all of us many of our colleagues have been hounded out of office by disinformation and misinformation and by the venom that is expressed in social media in this country and I would ask candidates as they go forward where you where you are being hounded out of office or where you are being hounded as you run for election call out these cheats call out these tramps who would damage your reputation and walk forward with pride. I haven't met anybody in this house that I would not be proud to stand behind and stand beside irrespective of their party allegiance. Most people I know in the Oireachtas are people who want the best for this country. I would ask the party members to impress upon their party officials the need for a full-time Minister for Defence and Security Services in the next Oireachtas. We do need to start taking, and there's a wonderful article by Jesse King or Jackie King in the Sunday Business Post on Ireland needing to take defence seriously and I would ask people to look at that. Now finally today, Search and Rescue, I have been on about it for the last I don't know how many years. Yesterday I was advised that the helicopter that is flying around Ireland at the moment as the new contract helicopter does not have a working infrared camera on it and the mission control system has not been installed. The contractor has now contracted CHC to run for an additional month with a provision to run until June of next year. They are not ready to start the contract. They've missed the start-up date and I understand that they are in no position to start the transfer system. I'm asking now that the Minister would consider extending CHC until June of next year and reappraising the capacity of the company that has been awarded the contract to actually fulfil the contract. I believe they're in serious trouble and I believe that there are serious IR issues as well coming down the road. Thank you. Senator Crockwell talked of again the search and rescue helicopter and he's been a great advocate on that issue and he's raised concerns there and called the Minister to extend the existing contract. He also talked of misinformation in elections and to have a permanent standalone Minister for defence which has come up the odd time. I know one constituent of mine who is critically exercised in that and believes it to be the case of course. If you have a standalone Minister of defence there needs to be another department therefore that's dropped and I know there's different proposals and perhaps we don't have enough cabinet positions perhaps with more responsibilities that ministers have left. Perhaps there is a need for more standalone cabinet departments but again that would require constitutional change.