Comments by airman `regretted'

The Defence Forces press office has expressed "regret" for last week's comments by a senior Air Corps officer about the future of the search-and-rescue helicopter fleet. However, it says it has no knowledge of any reorganisation of staff arising out of the criticisms.

An investigation into remarks by Comdt Aidan Flanagan, head of the helicopter wing, is being conducted by the Defence Forces' deputy chief-of-staff, Maj Gen Colm Mangan, and it is understood that Comdt Flanagan has been asked to submit a written report.

The press office said it "regretted that an officer would use a public occasion of this nature to make comments on what is essentially a policy matter".

The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, sought an explanation from the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps, Brig Gen Patrick Cranfield, after the comments, which were made in Mr Smith's presence at an awards ceremony in Dublin.