I think it just shows how much Mil SAR actually costs
not quite sure it does anything of the sort, especially as the Irish SAR contract isn't replacing the military. It just shows how much more expensive a SAR contract has to be if you want to make a profit on it rather than run it as a not-for profit organisation.
As you say, they all know how much it costs to run the operation but, when there is a bidding process and all claim the same capability, then the cheapest bidder will most likely get the gig and then have to squeeze some margin out of that.
If CHC have made a loss on their worldwide operations (notably the one they were already running in Ireland) it is even more imperative they make a decent profit out of the new Irish SAR contract- still don't see how that gives best value for money for the cash-strapped Irish taxpayers.