On the Tánaiste’s watch, the Irish Air Corps traffic control at Baldonnel is moving to five days per week. It does not have the personnel to provide full seven-day cover. The air traffic controllers based there manage military, helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft. They also manage Garda aircraft. Garda leadership is now looking for alternatives because responding to crime, as the Tánaiste knows, is not a five-day-a-week job. There are concerns these cutbacks will lead to a loss in essential support for the Coast Guard. If more personnel are lost, operations could be wound up completely. While the Tánaiste has been out drumming up headlines about fighter jets, the most basic needs of our Defence Forces, and of a functioning state, have been completely neglected. The Government received a high-level report in 2021 highlighting the need for urgent action on this issue. Why was no action taken? Why is the Air Corps traffic control going down to five days per week? Why are we putting core issues in jeopardy?

We are significantly increasing funding for defence and supporting the Air Corps, the Naval Service and Defence Forces more broadly. Indeed, funding for defence has increased by 30% since 2020 to a record level. It will increase again in the review of the national development plan shortly. We are back in an era of major investment. Deputy Doherty is right, however. It is no surprise to anyone that there are pinch points in parts of our Defence Forces, particularly in the context of particular skills and challenges in the retention of air traffic controllers. We are working with the Defence Forces, the Department of Defence and the Government more broadly to see what more can be done in this regard. Contingency planning will also be put in place. This issue pertains to Baldonnel. We live in a country which has other airports and air bases. We are working to make sure those contingency plans will ensure the continuation of services.