Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to indicate the extent to which the Air Corps and the Naval Service continue to cooperate in air-sea rescue missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29808/23]
View answerThe Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain since 2004. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out the roles assigned to them by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence 2015, which includes the provision of a range of supports to Government departments and agencies in line with MOUs and SLAs agreed by the Department of Defence, including search and rescue services.
Both the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to IRCG in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis. A Service Level Agreement is in place with the Irish Coast Guard setting out agreed roles and responsibilities in this regard.Air Corps SAR services currently provided to the Coast Guard on an “as available” basis include search support in a number of settings including the provision of top cover support, the potential to act as on-scene air co-ordinator if required and the provision of island medevacs when the IRCG are unable to respond, among other taskings.
Naval Service support to the Irish Coast Guard on an “as available” basis in the maritime SAR domain includes Search & Rescue/Recovery support, accommodation of IRCG personnel onboard Naval Service ships as required, enforcement of Exclusion Zones and Diving Unit assistance, among other taskings.
The Air Corps and Naval Service also participate in joint training exercises with the IRCG as required, and provide representation on relevant committees and fora as appropriate such as the National SAR Stakeholder Forum.
