Mr. Maurice Mullen:

This is clearly a policy decision and, as such, is a matter for the Minister. There is no question about that.

The Senator's question as to whether Valentia Island and Malin Head provide value for money is an important one. I do not hesitate to say that there has been a very fine performance in both locations and right across the Coast Guard service. The issue for us in terms of value for money is the question of how, across the whole integrated service, the total expenditure stacks up vis-à-vis the service we receive. The Fisher report deals with this issue in its consideration of the merits of two locations versus three and so on. The rationale for recommending two, as set out in the report, is based on a bigger picture perspective which also considers the question of how more jobs might be saved. In fact, the report identifies five potential centres - we are considering all of the possibilities - but argues that operating two centres, where there are more staff available in each station, has a huge number of additional benefits in terms of the strength of the service that can be provided. Such a scenario would mean, for example, that staff are less isolated, training would be more easily facilitated and there would be more cohesion and co-ordination in dealing with incidents and so forth. All of this is not to say that the current model does not offer very good value and a good service. As I said, we are reviewing all of the recommendations. If one looks at it across the board, however, the report does come down on the side of a more centralised model.

For members' information, it is not the case that Valentia handles two thirds of all incidents. In fact, Valentia handles some 40% of incidents, Malin deals with approximately 20% and Dublin handles a slightly higher percentage than Valentia.

The issue of socioeconomic impacts, as referred to by Deputy Arthur Spring, is an important one. What the Fisher report says on this matter is that the Department can advise on what we consider the best operational arrangements. It is a matter for Ireland Inc., as represented by this committee, the Oireachtas and the Government, to work out the implications from a social perspective in the context of the types of problems facing the country as a whole and the particular communities we are discussing.

I disagree with Senator Sheahan that the issue of oil pollution and prevention is a red herring in this discussion. If, as the Senator posits, a major oil tanker were to go down off the Irish coast, clearly every resource would be brought into play, not only within the Coast Guard but also from the Marine Survey Office, the Naval Service and everywhere else. Everybody would be on board. Below that worst case scenario, however, there is a whole array of intermediate possibilities, whether pollution in harbours, pollution around particular sensitive coastal areas and so on. What the Fisher report is saying is that we should have plans in place - plans that are well tested and approved - for such eventualities. That type of expertise is available in a delimited way within the Coast Guard and in the case of a major accident it would not be expected to act alone. It does, however, have a role to play in this area in respect of smaller incidents involving, for instance, a 10, 15 or 20 km stretch of coastline, which can have a devastating impact in the particular area. The report is simply saying that we must be ready to respond in those types of instances.

The Fisher report acknowledges the enormous contribution of the voluntary sector and the substantial expertise which exists within it. There is no question but that our coastal units are doing a superb job and will continue to do so. We are examining the proposal contained in the report that from a management perspective, certain units should be amalgamated. The report points out that while some coastal units are constantly busy and their staff always on the go, it is important to ensure that units which have less business and whose staff subsequently have less operational experience are continually trained so that in the event of an incident, they are fully capable of dealing with it. We are discussing these proposals. As Mr. Reynolds and his colleagues have pointed out, Ireland Inc. does receive a huge benefit from the service as it is currently delivered. There are different ways in which we can proceed in order to ensure that coastal units remain strong and active and available to their communities when they are needed. That is the perspective from which the Fisher report examined the issue.