Frazer-Nash, the English consultancy firm which worked on the business case approved by cabinet, is itself owned by a large private search and rescue operator called Babcock International.

Pilots’ group joins Irish Coast Guard boss in questioning the capability of the Air Corps to carry out effective rescues along east coast

A British helicopter firm has said handing some of the responsibility to the Air Corps would expand its range of skills

Chris Reynolds, director of the Irish Coast Guard, warned against the proposal that the Air Corps could provide search and rescue services for the east coast of the country

Since 2004, the €620 million ten-year contract has been outsourced to private corporations