Smith must provide safety, says group

THE federation representing seafarers called on Defence Minister Michael Smith yesterday to buy three helicopters for the Air Corps air\sea rescue missions.

Mr Smith was forced to postpone the purchase of three Sikorsky helicopters this year because of the cutbacks demanded by Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy.

But Mr Smith gave a commitment to proceed with the 60m plan to acquire three search and rescue helicopters next year - either through leasing or public private partnerships.

International Transport Federation Inspector Tony Ayton wants Mr Smith to give priority to buying these helicopters immediately.

“The seafarers I represent are as entitled to have an emergency service to call upon if it all goes wrong,” Mr Ayton said.

“While there is great respect for the private company which contracts helicopters to the Department of the Marine for a coastguard service, the State must not rely exclusively on the private sector for such a vital service,” Mr Ayton said.

He has written to Mr Smith asking him to give priority to rescue helicopters this year rather than buying more training helicopters for the Air Corps. A Department of Defence spokesman said the minister had appointed a committee to look into the best way of securing these three new helicopters next year.