Dick Spring
Question:10 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Marine if the inter-departmental report from the air sea rescue review group has been finalised and considered by the Cabinet; and when the findings will be made public.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Air-Sea Rescue Services.
Brian O'Shea
Question:12 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine when he will announce details of the new west coast rescue service, the setting up of which the Government have been considering for many months.
Dinny McGinley
Question:25 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine if the report of the Search and Rescue Committee has been made available to his Department; if so, if he will outline the report's main recommendations and when he expects to be in a position to implement same.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 12 and 25 together.
I have received the final report of the Review Group on Air/Sea Rescue Services.
The report is a thorough and thoughtful analysis of the structure and operation of air/sea rescue services. This is the first such study in the history of the State and it makes far-reaching recommendations to ensure a cost-effective and efficient search and rescue service.
The recommendations have been studied carefully by my Department and will be submitted to Government soon.
It will then be a matter for the Government to decide whether to publish the report.
Will the Minister agree that accidents and tragedies at sea do not wait for the findings of review groups and the result of Cabinet consultation? Will he ensure that the findings about which he seems to be particularly pleased are put into effect as soon as possible, especially in the west and north west, which have been demanding a modern air-sea rescue service for some time? Would he ensure that helicopters, 'planes and rescue boats are made available and based in those parts of the country which — from the Minister's reply to Question No. 7 — are inadequately catered for at present?
I agree totally with the Deputy that storms and accidents do not await anybody or anything. It is for that reason that we have given careful attention to the establishment of the review group and their recommendations. I will be taking to the Government soon their report and recommendations.
Have the Royal National Lifeboat Institution been included in the consultations that took place with the Sea Rescue Review Group since it was the former who carried out the sea rescue service around our coasts for many years and whose knowledge and skills would be of immense use to this group?
I met the board of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution recently. Their search and rescue operations of our coast are fully appreciated. It is only a few days since I received a letter of thanks from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for my efforts on their behalf.
Can the Minister confirm that he received the report of the Sea Rescue Review Group on 13 February last? Furthermore, can he explain why three months have elapsed without it being presented to Government? In view of that delay and the overall urgency of the issue, can he be more precise in regard to when it will be presented to Government, giving some definition of the term "soon"; for example, will it be weeks, months or how long does he anticipate it will take before being presented to Government?
I define "soon" as weeks since the Deputy gave me a choice. The fact is that the report and recommendations are being subjected to minute, punctilious examination in my Department. I can assure the Deputy there will not be any great delay.
Would the Minister agree that it is vital that this decision be taken by Government within a matter of weeks there being urgency in getting this overall plan in place since it will take a number of months before it can be effective? Would he agree that it is vital that this plan be in place prior to October next when the stormy season will recommence, when it will be highly likely that tragedies will occur?
I can assure the Deputy that I am not forgetful of the time when ships come under pressure from storms and so on. That is what is motivating me to have it in place as soon as possible.
In the context of accidents may I ask the Minister whether he, together with his colleague, the Minister for the Environment, will be launching a short campaign on safety measures at sea, particularly in view of the impending summer tourism season to ensure that life belts are not vandalised, that there is consideration and care given to seagoing craft of all descriptions in order to necessitate as few air/sea rescues as possible this summer in view of the serious consequences and tragic loss of life experienced in recent years?
I do not know whether the Deputy was present when I was replying earlier when I mentioned what had been done within my Department to prepare for such eventualities. With regard to the latter part of the Deputy's supplementary about equipment and so on, there is a question on the Order Paper later and I shall answer that in detail.