Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2019
234. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views regarding the manner in which the national search and rescue, SAR, framework operated in the search for Rescue 116; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7545/19]
View answerThe National SAR Framework is a document which sets out various roles and responsibilities of the various entities involved in Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue in Ireland, many of whom were involved at an operational level in the search for R116. I am not aware of any concerns arising from the manner in which that search was conducted that would be relevant to the National SAR Framework document.
The Air Accident Investigation Unit’s investigation into the causes of the accident continues and it is vital that they are given the time and space to complete their work. Their interim statement last March called for a review of oversight of Search and Rescue (SAR) aviation operations in Ireland. This was completed last September by independent international expertise (the AQE Report). A key recommendation in that report was to undertake a major review of the SAR Framework document. This is currently underway under the independent Chairmanship of Sir Alan Massey, ex CEO of the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency. As the AQE Report explains, search and rescue oversight and regulation is a complex matter, and international regulation is still endeavouring to keep pace with practice on the ground. However in implementing its recommendations, and, particularly, this major review of the SAR Framework document, Ireland has an opportunity to make meaningful improvement to our current oversight structures, and in doing so set a benchmark for other jurisdictions.
