Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Feb 1992

Vol. 416 No. 3

Written Answers. - Air/Sea Rescues.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

35 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine the number of air/sea rescue missions off the Irish coast in which the RAF have participated; whether such services and those of the Irish air/sea rescue services have been sufficiently acknowledged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Dr. Woods)

Assistance in rescues in the Irish search and rescue region was provided by the UK services on five occasions in 1991. I wish to refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 47 of 5 June 1991, columns 855 and 856, which gives the information for the previous five years. The updated statistical information is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

Since the Department of the Marine's helicopter came into operation on 15 July 1991 we have assisted the UK on three occasions in their area of responsibility. My Department have an observer on the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Committee. This brings together representatives of all the main British search and rescue agencies, including the RAF.

My representative has taken the opportunity at the half-yearly meetings of the UK Search and Rescue Committee to express to the RAF officers present my appreciation of the assistance the crews of the RAF helicopters have given to persons in distress in Irish waters. It is also standard practice for the co-ordinator of a rescue response, whose base is the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Shannon, to extend thanks to all agencies who have participated in any way during the rescue mission.

I would like to take this opportunity to say in this forum that I deeply appreciate the dedication to duty and sheer professionalism of all those involved in rescues off our coast.

Following is the statement:

Date	Location
15-1-91	80 miles off Mayo coast.
5-4-91	Off Black Head, County Clare.
30-9-91	130 miles south-west of Shannon.
30-10-91	Off Bonmahon, County Waterford.
21-11-91	Dublin Port.

A total of five occasions in 1991.