On my own behalf and that of my Department, I would like again to express our deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to all those affected by the recent tragedy, particularly to the family members of the crew of Rescue 116 and also to thank all those individuals and organisations who have been so generous in giving their time and resources to support the search effort. The full resources of the State remain committed to ensure that every effort is being made to locate the wreckage of Rescue 116 and the three missing crew.
My Department and I have the utmost respect for the volunteers and helicopter crew who provide a search and rescue service on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard, a division of my Department. Their bravery, dedication and commitment is nothing short of remarkable.
As regards the question, it is true that the Irish Coast Guard is not a separately established legal entity. It is a division of my Department. It was established as such under a Government Decision in 1990, initially as the Irish Marine Emergency Service, the name was later changed to the Irish Coast Guard in 2000, and the division was subsequently transferred from the Department of the Marine to the Department of Transport in 2006. Notwithstanding its functional location as a division of my Department it is in all operational respects a stand-alone primary response agency.
The IRCG have a number of functions, which include inter alia, Search and Rescue (SAR) and Maritime Pollution Prevention and Response. I am satisfied that the Irish Coast Guard has sufficient powers as a division of my Department, to carry out its functions. These powers are augmented by the various Merchant Shipping and Sea Pollution legislation which I have previously outlined in answer to a parliamentary question, on 15 November 2016 (Ref. 34648/16).
I am of the view, in light of the context set out above, that there is no need to place the IRCG on any additional statutory footing. Indeed, it is difficult to identify any specific need for legislation, or to establish what the purpose of any legislation would be. Legislating for a voluntary group would give rise to very complex matters and in all probability the volunteer sector would not be covered in any such legislation, as is evidenced by the Civil Defence Act which does not contain any provisions in respect of its large volunteer force. The same applies to matters such as training standards, which are dynamic and constantly evolving, and which are not, therefore an appropriate subject for legislation.
In these circumstances, I see no need to bring forward legislative proposals at this time.
