Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:119 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence when it is expected that a full search and rescue service will be reinstated in the north-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25505/03]
Priority Questions. - Search and Rescue Service.
Martin Ferris
Ceist:191 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Defence if he will make a statement on the search and rescue service based at Sligo; and if it is capable of providing a full rescue service at the current time. [24787/03]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:208 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the cause of the discontinuation of the emergency helicopter services serving the north-west; the action he proposes to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25634/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 191 and 208 together.
The Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for the provision of search and rescue services in the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps provides the service off the north-west coast from Sligo Regional Airport, while Canadian Helicopters Corporation Ireland, or CHCI, a private contractor, provides the service from Shannon, Waterford and Dublin. Until recently, the Air Corps service was provided from Finner using a Dauphin helicopter. As Deputies will be aware, that service has now been replaced with an S61 aircraft operating out of Sligo Airport. The autohover-equipped S61 helicopter was leased by the Coast Guard and tasked to the Air Corps. CHCI provides and maintains the aircraft, while it is flown and operated by Air Corps personnel.
The S61 commenced daylight operations in July 2003. The Air Corps continued to train on the S61 throughout the summer with the objective of moving to a full 24-hour search and rescue service in November. Regarding the current situation in the north-west, since late September there has been an unusually high incidence of sick leave among rear crew, a term covering winch men and winch operators. As service continuity could not be guaranteed with the existing rear crews, the GOC posted 13 of the 17 personnel to other duties. All available options to continue to provide the service were examined, and a course of action to expedite the phased return to a full service is currently being implemented.
Several Air Corps personnel who previously served in search and rescue are now being retrained on the S61. In addition, the recruitment of personnel from within the Defence Forces to be trained as rear crew has commenced. With regard to the lead times involved in training new crews, the current plan envisages that the 12-hour, largely daylight, full search and rescue service will be available from late spring 2004, with the S61 providing a limited service of search, air ambulance, island relief, disaster relief and so on for the remaining 12 hours. The full 24-hour service on the S61 should commence in autumn 2004. In the period up to late spring 2004, the currently available, limited S61 service will of course continue.
I am most disappointed at this turn of events. The personnel in the Air Corps search and rescue unit have put huge effort into their training and work-up period in Sligo and, but for the illness, would have been ready to move to a full 24-hour search and rescue service later this month. For the remaining crew and pilots and the Air Corps as a whole, this has been a major setback. I would like to assure the House that, contrary to sugges tions in recent press releases, the primary concern of the Air Corps is the safety of its personnel. The S61 provides a very robust and effective platform for search and rescue in the North Atlantic, representing a significant improvement in capability and safety for the Air Corps personnel operating the service. The implementation of the new service has been overseen by a steering group comprising the coast guard, the Air Corps, the directorate of Defence Force operations, the Department of Defence and CHCI.
Additional Information.The Sligo S61 is a tried and proven search and rescue helicopter with modern equipment. Pilots and rear crew were trained and independently rated by experienced CHCI personnel. Significant investment has been made in the Sligo base in accommodation, rest areas, offices and the provision of all modern search and rescue equipment. The helicopter and all its equipment are maintained to civil aviation standards. CHCI has conducted two independent safety audits of the whole Sligo operation and is satisfied that everything is in order. In addition, the air safety officer for the Air Corps, following a detailed safety audit of the operations in Sligo, has satisfied the GOC that all safety matters have been addressed. A further audit of the operation was due to be carried out independently by both CHCI and the Air Corps before the operation moved to a 24-hour search and rescue service.
As can be seen, there is huge emphasis on the safety aspects of Air Corps operations. There are procedures in place for ensuring a safe working environment and ensuring the serviceability of all equipment. For the overall operation, independent audits will continue to be carried out to ensure that standards are maintained.
Has the root cause of the spate of sick leave been fully investigated? Is it true that serious concern about health and safety has been expressed by the personnel involved? Is the Minister aware that there is a serious void in the rescue services on which the north-west depends as a consequence of this problem? What does the Minister propose to do to address this matter of urgency?
As I indicated in my reply, I am extremely disappointed by this setback. The S61 service is a massive improvement on the original service. A great deal of training was provided, support was given by CHCI and extra facilities were provided at Sligo. The Air Corps, the pilots and many of the other people involved were determined to continue this service. The 12-hour service had been achieved and everything was building up to the provision of a 24-hour service in November. I have no claim before me. Nothing – pay or otherwise – is being pursued by associations such as PDFORRA and RACO. The management of the Air Corps has to resolve the difficulties that are behind this problem. We are doing all we can to maintain the highest possible level of service and to liaise with Shannon, Prestwick and Stornoway to ensure that emergency cover is provided. We are providing the fullest possible extent of search and rescue services from the resources available to us. We hope that a full-time service can be reinstated as quickly as possible by recruiting people from the Defence Forces and individuals who have already served in this area.
Can the Minister tell the House what triggered the present dispute or difference of opinion? Does he feel that the original cause of this problem warrants the discommoding of the entire rescue service in the north-west? Is he conscious of the serious damage that could accrue? Does the Minister suggest to the House that further personnel are being trained to fill the void arising from this dispute? Can he assure the House that the same problems will not apply when this group of personnel has been trained? The original root cause of the dispute existed at the beginning and has not been resolved. The Minister has not indicated that it has been resolved, but can he tell us how he will help to resolve it?
The answer to the Deputy's first question is "Yes"– we are training new people in the Defence Forces to take over winch and rear crew activities. Nobody can give a guarantee for the future, but I am concerned about what has happened. My Department has deployed resources to fund search and rescue services. The Air Corps has demonstrated its determination to maintain the services. The cost of the S61 over a three-year span exceeds €16 million. Other facilities, such as accommodation and rest areas, have been provided to ensure that the personnel involved in this service have the best possible provisions. The safety issues, some of which were raised, have been substantially addressed. Everything possible is being done to ensure that nothing like this ever occurs again.
Joe Sherlock
Ceist:120 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Defence the steps being taken to end the conflict involving Air Corps winch crews and particularly to deal with allegations of bullying and harassment as a result of members raising concerns over safety issues; the number of such personnel who have been transferred, moved to other duties or otherwise disciplined; the plans there are to address the concerns raised and end the dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25452/03]
I dealt in the previous question with the service aspects of the provision by the Air Corps of search and rescue services from Sligo Airport. I will address the specific issues raised by Deputy Sherlock. I assure him there is no question of a conflict or dispute between the winch crews and the Air Corps management. The pay claim that had been lodged by PDFORRA on behalf of the personnel was being processed under the agreed conciliation and arbitration scheme. The claim was withdrawn by the association in early September, however, and it is not pressing any other issue or claim on behalf of the personnel.
Media reports have referred to the safety aspects of the provision of the service and the concerns expressed earlier this year by the crewmen in respect of some equipment. These matters have been substantively addressed. Additional checks were implemented to ensure that standing procedures for servicing date-expired equipment are fully complied with. The Deputy is aware that PDFORRA, the representative body for the winch men and winch operators, has publicly acknowledged that the concerns have been addressed and that there are no outstanding search and rescue service safety issues. There has been an unusually high incidence of sick leave among the winch men and winch operators since late September. As service continuity could not be guaranteed with the existing winch men and winch operators, the general officer commanding the Air Corps posted 13 of the 17 personnel to other appointments elsewhere in the Air Corps.
The military authorities have been to the fore in addressing workplace bullying and harassment. A wide range of measures has been put in place to deal with this issue in the Defence Forces. Although there have been general references to bullying and harassment in the Air Corps, mainly in the media, specific allegations have not been made. Given the confidential nature of the Defence Forces anti-bullying services, I am not in a position to comment on individual cases. I have been assured by the military authorities, however, that allegations will be fully investigated in accordance with the arrangements. In this regard, I remind the Deputy that bullying can be defined as offensive, abusive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, or abuse of power conducted by an individual or group against others and which is generally persistent, systematic and ongoing. Harassment can be defined as any act or conduct including spoken words, gestures, the production, display or circulation of written words, pictures or other material which is unwelcome and which could reasonably be regarded as offensive, humiliating or intimidating.
Additional Information.I am satisfied that the action taken by the military authorities in addressing the safety and health concerns of the search and rescue crews was in the best interests of the personnel concerned at all times. It did not fall within the scope of the definitions that have been cited.
I wish to point out that the taking of any form of industrial action is irreconcilable with military service. I am satisfied that the mechanisms available to the representative associations through the Defence Forces conciliation and arbitration scheme and the agreed arrangements provide a framework within which issues of concern can be addressed. No such issues remain outstanding in respect of the winch crews. If members of the Defence Forces were engaging in behaviour that could be regarded as industrial action, there would be very significant implications for the individuals, the representative association and representation in the Defence Forces.
Does the Minister agree that lives may be at risk as a result of the absence of full emergency cover in the north west? Does he agree that the safety of personnel should be an absolute priority?
The safety of personnel in the Air Corps and in the search and rescue services provided by the Air Corps is obviously of paramount importance to me, in the first instance. The Government has not failed to provide financial resources to ensure that the best arrangements are put in place. The safety of persons who are at risk and may require search and rescue services is of paramount importance to all of us. I hoped to add substantially to the very comprehensive service that is available by providing a full 24-hour service from Sligo. I expected that the service would operate from November but, as I indicated to Deputy Durkan, I have been disappointed in that regard. Arrangements are being made to ensure that services in the periphery of the region are available if emergencies arise. Other services that are available include air ambulance services, island relief services, disaster relief services and resupply missions in maritime emergencies. The RNLI provides an excellent service up to 50 miles out to sea. The search and rescue service provided by the Air Corps is not the only rescue service that is available. A number of winch men and rear crew men are prepared to continue to operate the service. The commitment of the pilots and the others involved means that extraordinary demands can be met on limited occasions. We are doing as much as we can, but we did not foresee this problem. We could not be expected to replace all the men at such short notice.
The Minister will agree that there are differences in personnel. Is he prepared to apologise for some remarks that he made, according to the advice I have been given?
I have made no derogatory remarks and I have cast no aspersions on anybody. I have no idea what the Deputy is referring to. The relationship between the Minister for Defence, PDFORRA and RACO is being expressed in many different ways with the co-operation that is taking place at the present time in the Defence Forces. There is no issue at the moment. PDFORRA has brought no issues before me in respect of these matters. I am vulnerable and I make mistakes from time to time. I cannot account for all of that. I am sure I am just as human as everybody else.