With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together.
The service provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution forms part of the general sea rescue service network. As regards the adequacy of this service, I would refer Deputy Esmonde to my reply to questions by Deputies T. O'Donnell and P.D. Harte on 26th February, 1970 in which I dealt with the adequacy and efficiency of the marine rescue services as a whole.
The Lifeboat Institution is an independent voluntary organisation which has not sought and does not receive any kind of State subsidy in this country or in Britain.