Helicopters scandal - Millions wasted

IF someone in any company of consequence signed off on a €3 million contract for machinery without ensuring that it was fit for purpose only to discover that it was not they would be fired.

No debate, no touchy-feely counselling or retraining, no discussion, no soft-landing, no golden handshakes, no full-time golf at 52, just a you-did-what? conversation and a curt goodbye followed by a well deserved P45 moment.

Yet, as the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, heard yesterday the Department of Defence did not inspect two helicopters expected to carry Irish soldiers on a peace mission in Chad only to discover that the €2,100-a-day aircraft were not licensed to carry troops.