Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have addressed this question. I think it was Deputy Munster who addressed a question on the matter to me in the Dáil the other day. I have no plans to put the Coast Guard on a statutory basis. Some members of the Coast Guard, albeit I think a very small minority, are interested in this, and I have said I would be happy to meet them and talk to them about it, but I am advised by my Department that no real benefits would arise from placing the body on a statutory footing and that there is currently no need to do so. We are therefore not making provisional plans to do so because we do not intend to take that policy direction and do not see a need for it. The Coast Guard is operating extraordinarily well and has sufficient powers, according to I think the vast majority of those who are in positions of authority in the Coast Guard.