Austin Deasy
Question:34 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, he has to set up a Coastguard Service to regulate and co-ordinate maritime activities around the coast. [1897/96]
Written Answers. - Coastguard Service.
The range of services normally provided by a coastguard services encompasses such diverse activities as fishery protection, search and rescue, provision of lights and navigational aids, drugs interdiction, revenue control, pollution prevention and control and the provision of coastal radio services.
Various models and structures have evolved over time in different parts of the world in regard to the delivery of these services to the public ranging from the American Coastguard (which is quasi-military and also supervises shipconstruction and certification of seamen) to the British Coastguard which is largely unchanged from what operated here before independence and mainly consists of a static coast-watch. The way in which the various services in question are provided here developed historically having regard to the particular circumstances that prevailed here and to the requirements and resources available. The present arrangements work well and I have no plans to set up a coastguard service as such.
I am sure that the Deputy is aware that following the publication of the Doherty report in February 1990 the arrangements for marine search and rescue as well as the coast radio services were reorganised under a new executive office established in the Department of the Marine viz. the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES). The fact that fisheries protection is the responsibility of the Naval Service, assisted by the Air Corps, (both of which are under military control) would pose difficulties in integrating these services in a Coastguard as would the fact that the Commissioners of Irish Lights are an all-Ireland body.
I should also remind the Deputy that it is the intention that Naval Service officers should be authorised to arrest suspected drug smugglers at sea without having a Garda present as part of newly co-ordinated arrangements for dealing with the illicit drugs trade.