The Minister for Defence could alleviate much of the concern felt by the families of the four Air Corps officers killed in the helicopter crash at Tramore last year if he could explain why there was no air traffic controller in place, Mr Jack Wall (Labour, Kildare South) suggested, during Question Time.

"The airport manager was there and there was a technician," replied the Minister, Mr Michael Smith. "It is always the captain, the pilots and the people in the aircraft who make their judgment call on the night."