The Junior Defence Minister said he is “fully satisfied” the State Claims Agency (SCA) can adequately carry out health audits in the Air Corps — despite a separate workplace safety watchdog finding a series of failings at Casement Aerodrome after a decade of annual inspections by the SCA.

Minister for Defence Simon Coveney says he believes health and safety issues with a number of costly Defence Force ambulances can be overcome quickly and cost-effectively.