The Army and Air Corps have disagreed over temporary relocation of the north-west air/sea rescue base, following further delays in providing crash rescue facilities at Finner, Co Donegal.
Sligo airport has been recommended as an alternative to Finner by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Air Corps, Brig Gen Patrick Cranfield. However, the Army has set up its own working group on the issue and has recommended Carrickfin airport in Co Donegal.
A final decision is expected to be taken by the Defence Forces Chief-of-Staff in consultation with the Minister for Defence next week. However the helicopter pilots are believed to favour Sligo, and it has the endorsement of the defence wing's new flight-safety officer.
The debate over temporary relocation of the north-west base comes at a time of renewed urgency, following confirmation that the fire tender ordered for Finner camp is not now expected to be in place before the end of March - and possibly as late as May. The absence of crash rescue facilities at the north-west air/sea rescue base was identified over five years ago in a report to the GOC.
However, it took a direct appeal to the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, by the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers early last summer for a decision to be taken. Two months ago, the Minister saw a copy of an internal report highlighting the lack of similar facilities at several other military bases, including Baldonnel, Co Dublin; Gormanston, Co Meath; and Monaghan.
Following a meeting with military chiefs, the Minister said that he had received an assurance that safety standards and procedures in the Air Corps were "of the highest order".
Last month, air/sea rescue cover at Finner was suspended for one night due to technical difficulties with its helicopter.
The suitability of the Dauphin helicopter for search and rescue on the Atlantic seaboard has long been an issue, but was highlighted in the Air Accident Investigation Unit's (AAIU) report into the Tramore Dauphin crash, which claimed four airmen's live last year. The investigators recommended that the GoC Air Corps review the shortcomings of the Dauphin aircraft in the north-west.
In a separate development, the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Hugh Byrne, has called on the Government to lease medium-range aircraft for the Air Corps, pending delivery of new equipment to replace the Dauphin fleet.
A shortlist of competitors for the contract, which could be worth up to £100 million, is expected shortly.
Mr Byrne has also repeated his call for immediate restoration of 24-hour search and rescue cover in the south-east.
In a statement this weekend, SIPTU has appealed to the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, to restore the all-weather 24hour base to the south-eastern region.
Mr Tony Ayton, SIPTU regional official, said that the south-east coast was close to some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world and was currently served by "one ageing aircraft of very limited range" - a reference to the Alouette helicopter which has been on station at Waterford since the Dauphin crash. "According to the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, the country is awash with money, yet we fail to provide such basic safety facilities for this region," Mr Ayton said.