Defence Dept quizzed on helicopters' lease

gizmo555

Definitely in the "you couldn't make it up" category . . .

Department of Defence Secretary General Michael Howard has told the Public Accounts Committee he accepts that the leasing of helicopters for the Irish forces taking part in the EUFOR mission in Chad was not done properly.

He said procurement procedures have now been revamped.

Later, he said the transaction was carried out by people who had not done this type of thing before and that it had been done in a rush.

Under questioning, he also admitted that the Irish Air Corps had not even been consulted, saying it would normally be consulted about such issues.

Mr Howard also said the helicopters had not been inspected - he claimed that the helicopters' paperwork was inspected and that it was not usual to inspect the actual aircraft.

The PAC was told that Defence Forces Chief of Staff had been responsible for the leasing of the helicopters in the first instance.

Earlier, in his assessment, Comptroller & Auditor General John Buckley found breaches of procurement practices in the leasing of two helicopters at a cost of €3m.

The helicopters were leased for ten months from June 2008.In September a question arose as to their certification and they were replaced in January 2009.

John Buckley said there had been no business case for the transaction presented to the Department of Defence, as per proper procedure.
He said the helicopters had been found to be licensed only for the transportation of cargo.

Michael Howard said that between September 2008 and January 2009 - when the replacements arrived - he had kept the unlicensed ones in use in case of emergency.

They were also used for supplies.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1112/defence.html

Manic Moran

The stupidity of it is that the aircraft leased were in military configuration. The reason they were not licensed to carry passengers was that the seats were not facing forwards/rear but sideways. Apparently it violated some European safety rule.

NTM