Joint Committee on Transport and Communications to discuss overview of Irish Coast Guard

The meeting will hear from officials from the Department of Transport, Deirdre O’Keeffe, Assistant Secretary, Liam Keogh, Principal Officer, and Phil O’Flaherty, Principal Officer, and Eugene Clonan, Acting Director, Irish Coast Guard.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kieran O’Donnell said: “The Irish Coast Guard is Ireland’s fourth ‘blue light’ service alongside the Gardaí, ambulance and fire services. It provides nationwide maritime emergency services, including helicopter search and rescue, as well as a variety of services to shipping and other government agencies. The Coast Guard is a division of the Department of Transport and thus the Department is responsible for governance and management of the service.

“The Committee looks forward to hearing a comprehensive overview of the Irish Coast Guard service from the Department officials and Mr Clonan. Among the areas Members wish to explore are the recent report into the tragic crash in 2017 of the Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 off Co Mayo, which claimed the lives of the four crew, and other ongoing issues within the Irish Coast Guard.”

The Joint Committee on Transport and Communications has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.