As the Cathaoirleach pointed out, there will be a presentation in the audiovisual room at 12.30 p.m. by some of the leading cardiologists in the country and members of related professions.

The topic under discussion will be hypertension and its dangers. People tend to think that stroke is something that afflicts people in the latter part of their lives and people in the departure lounge, like myself, who are over a certain age. In actual fact, one of my school friends had a stroke at 37 and spent the rest of his natural life in a nursing home. Stroke can affect anybody, hypertension can affect anybody and cardiac-related events can affect any person. I ask Members of the Seanad and the Dáil to attend today, if they can, to get to meet some of the professionals who are there and take a few moments to listen to what they have to say.

Last week, the Department of Defence came before the defence committee and I raised questions concerning the purchase of four H145 helicopters for the Defence Forces. In my view, they do not meet the requirements of the commission on the future of the Defence Forces. They are not medium-lift helicopters. The commission looked for the purchase of two medium-lift helicopters, which would be the AgustaWestland 139s, and between now and 2030 for a move to having eight super-medium-lift helicopters. Apparently, there is now no money left to buy the super-medium-lift helicopters. I have asked on a number of occasions for the Minister for Defence to come to the House for an open debate on adherence to Government policy and the commission on the future of the Defence Forces. Another issue we should discuss is that we are now piling all of our eggs into one basket and we have selected one country for the supply of nearly all defence equipment. Professor Davis, who spoke to the committee two weeks ago, advised that this was folly.

Politics change and countries change their attitudes. We need to explore this with the Minister to see exactly who is driving the agenda in this country and what the agenda is. Are we going to follow to the letter of the law the recommendations of the commission on the future of the Defence Forces? This is very important. Buying four helicopters is great but if they cannot do the job we want of them what good are they? They certainly cannot carry a section of special forces people. Whether they would be able to fight fires I am not sure. It was said they were being used for training. If they are only being used for training why do we need missile systems on them? Government policy is to have no Israeli equipment of any sort, but I understand these helicopters may well have Israeli equipment. There are questions for the Departments of Defence and justice to answer with respect to the purchase of these helicopters.