The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has agreed to buy a second helicopter for the Garda Air Support Unit as well as a £250,000 high-speed patrol boat, writes Jim Cusack, Security Correspondent.
The order for a £3 million Eurocopter EC 135 follows appraisal of the performance of the unit's first helicopter, which has been very successful since it was introduced over two years ago.
The patrol launch is a Targa Mark II, to be used mainly on the Shannon.