In light of recent media reports, I want to return to the matter of airspace management in this jurisdiction. In an effort to be constructive, we should probably reframe the debate. It is not really one of national defence but flight safety. The country is at peace, thankfully, so we should have an air policing service here with a constabulary role. That is where the focus should be. What happens in a normal EU country is that if a passenger airline, for instance, is not co-operating with air traffic control, after a time, a couple of jets are scrambled, they intercept the aircraft, do a close visual inspection, make sure the pilots are conscious and there has not been any cabin decompression. If there is a problem with communications, they use hand signals to communicate with the pilots and tell them to tweak the frequencies. If that passenger airliner remains unco-operative with air traffic control, that message is relayed back to air traffic control and other aircraft are diverted to avoid an inadvertent collision. Primarily, it is an air policing and air safety issue rather than a national defence issue.

Second, we have very busy airspace over our heads. We sit on the main air corridor between North America and continental Europe and we should have our own air policing service. The Air Corps did provide a rudimentary one in the past. The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended one when it reported some 15 months ago. That will take some time, however. It is completely reasonable, rational and responsible that, as an interim measure, we reach out to a neighbouring county with surplus capacity in this area and ask it to cover for us for a couple of years until we establish our own service. I welcome that there is at least some indication that there is an arrangement in place between the Royal Air Force and this country. I do not welcome the ambiguity surrounding it, however. It is being treated like the third secret of Fatima all over again and it does not have to be. It is normal to enter into these relationships and we should be much more open and honest in that regard. The students in the Visitors Gallery will know the words of Bill Shakespeare: "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive". Honesty is the best policy in every circumstance but particularly when we are dealing with an issue as important as this.

Finally, I raise the primary radar system. It was also recommended 15 months ago by the Commission on the Defence Forces. Given that the Government has accepted the commission's recommendations, it is legitimate, 15 months down the track, to ask where that primary radar is. Are we going to have it in place by the end of this year or this Dáil or will it come into place at all? I would be grateful if the Taoiseach could clarify these matters.

The safety of our skies and the control of our airspace involve a number of things. There are aspects that relate to defence and national security, whether it is incursions by foreign aircraft or the possibility of a hijacking happening over our airspace. Mainly, however, it is a matter of civil aviation and air safety in the way the Deputy explained very eloquently. What are we doing? We are developing our Air Corps. On foot of the recommendations of the Commission on the Defence Forces, we are going to build up our Air Corps and radar capability so that we have an air force but it will be a small air force, appropriate for a country of 5 million people. Even then, not just on an interim basis but long term, we will need to have arrangements and co-operation with our neighbours and also our partners in the European Union, particularly through permanent structured co-operation, PESCO and, in NATO, through the Partnership for Peace. There is nothing strange about those arrangements. They are entirely appropriate.

On the Air Corps, we have a programme for the supply of two C295 maritime patrol aircraft at a cost of €230 million. They will be delivered this year. A contract has recently been awarded for a C295W fixed-wing military transport aircraft at a cost of €70 million. I do not have a date for its arrival. We also have four relatively new PC-12 aircraft that are equipped for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, ISTAR. These were only acquired in 2020. In total, about €350 million has been committed to improve our Air Corps capability, which is significant. In addition, AirNav Ireland, which was formerly part of the Irish Aviation Authority, IAA, exercises air traffic control responsibilities for our airspace, comprising both our sovereign airspace but also airspace over the high seas over our western seaboard. However, on a routine basis, the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces. The eight-strong fleet of Pilatus PC-9 aircraft currently operated by the Air Corps provides a limited air-to-air and air-to-ground intercept capacity.

My major concern is the primary radar system. We have not heard anything about it in the past 15 months and, if the Taoiseach will pardon the pun, I think the primary radar is about to fall off the radar. I have no doubt that the direct interest of both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste will be needed to pursue this project. It would be a huge disappointment if we do not act on the recommendations because the Exchequer finances are in surplus. It is an ideal time to use non-recurring capital expenditure to upgrade our facilities. The reason is simple. Any passenger flying through Irish airspace is entitled to expect the same standard of safety and security as they would in any other national, sovereign airspace in the EU. I do not think they are getting that service at the moment.

They are paying for it, because we operate a tolling system whereby any aircraft that flies through Irish airspace pays a toll. However, they are not getting the service they are entitled to expect. I urge the Taoiseach and even the Tánaiste to take an active interest in this project. Otherwise, it will not be delivered.

Building up our radar is very much on the agenda and it is a recommendation we accepted from the Commission on the Defence Forces. A project team comprising senior civil and military personnel has commenced work on planning for this. It includes ground-based, maritime and primary radar systems. It is one of the early actions identified in the high-level action plan. Primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to commission, install and operate. Delivery, however, is being prioritised. This year’s increased capital allocation for defence includes funding to explore the development of primary radar capability. I am told that the requirements for the delivery of military radar across various domains, including primary radar, are extremely complex and will need to have regard to emerging priorities, operational requirements and changes in technology. These all need to be considered in the first instance before any detailed planning in relation to site locations can be undertaken, but there have been some site visits to other member states to see how it is best done. I assure Deputy Berry that this is something I will take an interest in and I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence will as well. This will form part of our discussions with the senior staff of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence.