Sir, - I refer to the report in your edition of March 27th concerning the medium-lift helicopter contract.
What has been described as a rare public statement was in fact some comments I made in response to a telephone query from your reporter Mark Hennessy. The thrust of my comments was that we in the Air Corps were very happy with the S-92 decision and we were anxious that there should be no delays.
I realise that it was inappropriate that I should make any public comment on a matter in the political arena and have passed my regrets to the Minister in that regard.
The comments attributed to me do not fully reflect the correct position in relation to Search and Rescue (SAR) cover. It has always been the case that there would be some gap between the withdrawal of the Dauphin helicopter from the SAR role and the introduction of the new helicopters for the Air Corps.
My staff are involved in the ongoing discussions with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to fill this gap and I am very happy with these arrangements. - Yours, etc.,
Brig Gen JOHN O'BRIEN,
GOC Air Corps,
Casement Air Base,
Baldonnel,
Dublin 22.