Vol. 389 No. 6
asked the Minister for the Marine if the new committee currently reviewing the Air/Sea Rescue Service were given a date for completion of their report; if they will look at manpower levels in the Air Corps; and if their findings will be published.
12.
asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give a report on the meeting of the international committee set up to investigate air/sea rescue facilities; the names of those who attended from his Department; and the international experts who were present.
14.
asked the Minister for the Marine the reason he found it necessary to invite outside expertise on to the committee recently set up to investigate the Search and Rescue Services off the west coast of Ireland, having regard to the fact that such expertise is available in this country.
15.
asked the Minister for the Marine if the Review Body on Search and Rescue has met; if all the members were present; and when they will issue their report.
19.
asked the Minister for the Marine when the review group established to consider the question of the rescue services on the west coast will report; the number of meetings of the group held so far; if the report will be published in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
22.
asked the Minister for the Marine the implications of the demanning of the remaining lighthouses for the search and rescue services of the State.
30.
asked the Minister for the Marine the elements in the Government's memorandum on search and rescue services that they felt unable to implement and which caused it to establish another review body on search and rescue.
32.
asked the Minister for the Marine whether any of the international experts appointed by him to the Search and Rescue Review Body were present at its first meeting on 7 April 1989; and, if not, the reason.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 14, 15, 19, 22, 30 and 32 together.
The Review Group on Air/Sea Rescue Services were established not to investigate search and rescue services off the west coast exclusively but to examine the structure and the operation of the air/sea rescue service within the State's area of responsibility which includes the seas off the south and east coasts of Ireland as well as a large area extending to approximately 200 miles off the west coast. The group's terms of reference also require them to make recommendations to ensure a cost effective and efficient service to meet national and international requirements. Within the context of these terms of reference, it will be a matter for the group to determine the manner and extent of their inquiries. I expect, however, that the group will examine the operations and capabilities of each of the component organisations in the search and rescue system, including the Air Corps, and recommend any possible improvements.
Regarding a completion date, I do not wish to tie the group to a precise date for submission of a report. The Minister did, however, address the group at their inaugural session held on 7 April 1989 and impressed on them the need for urgency. The frequency and timing as well as the attendance at and conduct of meetings of the group are a matter for the chairman and members. The records of their meeting are confidential. Taking account of the nature and extent of the consultations and investigations which are involved, I anticipate that the report would take some months to complete.
The membership of the review group reflects the fact that search and rescue is a truly international service not limited by national boundaries and that decisions taken by individual states can have implications for the search and rescue operational procedures in force in neighbouring administrations. For this reason, the International Maritime Organisation, which are the United Nations agency responsible for safety at sea, have undertaken the development of an international search and rescue plan and have encouraged neighbouring states to enter into discussions regarding the establishment of common procedures and practices. This is in keeping with the provisions of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, 1974, and the 1958 Convention on the High Seas, in accordance with which contracting Governments undertake to co-operate with neighbouring states for the provision and maintenance of an adequate and effective search and rescue system and to assist and advise other states in the establishment or review of its service.
The decision to invite outside participation in the workings of the review group was taken in the light of the international co-operation which exists in the area of search and rescue — co-operation which was demonstrated so effectively in the marine incidents which occurred in recent months — and with a view to ensuring that any changes to our system would not disrupt practices in neighbouring states.
Automation and demanning of lighthouses has been going on for more than 20 years. The current programme will lead to the automation of the remaining manned lights by the middle of the nineties. The automation and demanning programme of the Commissioners of Irish Lights is being implemented for sound economic reasons and the Commissioners are satisfied that the excellent quality of service mariners have come to expect from Irish Lights will be maintained on automation.
Concern, however, has been expressed at the demanning of the lighthouses because of the cessation of the incidental coastwatch assistance lightkeepers are in a position to provide by reason of their location. Since those concerns were first raised, I have taken steps that have in effect transformed the position of vessels in difficulty around the coast. Since March 1987 my Department have installed a comprehensive network of VHF stations providing a 24 hour listening watch on the distress channel on all coasts.
There have been suggestions that a visual coast-watching service be established to replace that provided informally by lightkeepers. I consider that this issue falls within the terms of reference of the Review Group on Air/Sea Rescue Services. I look forward to seeing what views the review group have on the matter.
Finally, the content of memoranda for Government and the record of Government discussions are confidential and it is not the practice to reveal them. I can say, however, that no options have been excluded in advance of the review group's deliberations.
Will the Minister agree that the committee were established following the expression of concern here and outside about the inadequacy of the air/sea search and rescue service around our coastline? The committee have met and the Minister should be in a position to report to the House who attended and, in particular, if experts from outside the country attended. Is the Minister aware that the public consider the establishment of the committee as a fobbing-off exercise by the Government so as to delay a decision on the air/sea rescue service? Will the Minister accept that there is a need for the Government to take urgent and practical action in regard to that service? Will he accept that the position is highly unsatisfactory? Will the Minister give some indication when he expects the committee to be in a position to report? Their terms of reference are specific and it is important that a report should be submitted to the House in the next four or five months.
It was as a result of the great concern of the Government about such a service that the committee were established. I can appreciate the public holding the view that the Government were engaged in a fobbing-off exercise when irresponsible Members continue to impress that on them. I have the greatest admiration for the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee and their report will be taken into consideration by the committee established by the Government. We do not take decisions on an ad hoc basis; we believe in making decision that will last. In our view it is necessary to await the report of the committee. The committee should have some international flavour and avail of the expertise of officials from the Community such as Mr. Benda. Indeed, Mr. McDonald, the coast guard attaché of the US Embassy in London, has been consulted.
Did those people attend the meeting?
The Minister and I were very pleased to meet Mr. McDonald who impressed us very much with his indepth knowledge of such a service. The attendance at and conduct of meetings of the group are matters for the chairman and members.
Did they attend meetings?
The Deputy is aware of some of the reasons people did not attend meetings. It would be unfair, unsympathetic, cold and callous of the Minister to say why some person could not attend a meeting. I am impressed by the membership of the committee and I am proud of the contribution made by our members who are on the committee. They have made a tremendous contribution to it. I look forward to receiving the report of the committee which will be presented to the Government.
I should like to tell the Deputy that no option will be excluded in advance of the deliberations by the review group. I should like to remind the House that the public were given an opportunity, through a notice in the national newspapers, and in the Skipper and Marine Times, to make submissions to the review group. I hope Members who are expressing concern about this service have taken up that offer and submitted, on their own behalf or an behalf of their parties, proposals to the group.
Arising from what the Minister has said, and more particularly from what he has not said, and accepting that the deliberations of the committee must of necessity be confidential, I should like to ask the Minister how many times the committee met. Will the report, when completed, be published and made available to Members? The Minister has said that all options will be left open and, in view of the initiative by the Minister for Defence in this area, do I take it the committee have within their remit the opportunity of considering the privatisation of the air/sea search and rescue service?
We are having an extention of the question.
Is the Deputy recommending that?
I most certainly am not but I want to expose the involvement of the Taoiseach's son in this.
That does not arise now.
The committee had some difficulty in meeting over the Easter period and one must accept the reasons for that. The committee met informally with us on the morning of 7 April and met formally in the afternoon. We had informal meetings as late as this morning with members of the group and I understand that they will be meeting again in mid-May. There is no question of the group not working or not taking an interest in the matter. The committee have sufficient information to consider in the meantime. When their report is made available it will be presented to the Government for a decision.
I must emphasise that the Government have not excluded any options. I was surprised that Deputy McCartan clarified that he was not in favour of privatisation. I am in favour of the provision of the best search and rescue service for the country and I do not exclude anything. If privatisation is the best we must have it to look after the best interests of our country and forget our politics.
Including the Taoiseach's son?
We should forget our politics whether we are members of The Workers' Party or any other party. We should put people before politics.
The only company invited to make a submission by the Minister for Defence was Irish Helicopters, the Taoiseach's son's company.
Deputy McCartan should desist. I am calling Deputy Taylor-Quinn.
What I have said is on the record of the House.
This matter has been raised on many occasions in the House and Members have expressed grave concern about the issue. Is the Minister in a position to give a commitment to the House that the report of the committee will be put before us for discussion when it is completed?
I have every confidence in the Government, as have more than 50 per cent of the population, and I have no doubt that the Government, when they have considered the report, will take the right decision. It is a matter for them to decide whether to present the report to the House. At the end of the day, the important thing is that we should provide the best service.
