Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will come back to the substantive issue with a question for Mr. Clonan. I am struggling to square this to be honest. I have submitted parliamentary questions on this. I hear what the Coast Guard and the Department are saying in terms of it being a great place to work with a relatively low number of disciplinary actions and dismissals. There is a significant programme of change and involvement with the coastal unit advisory group, CUAG, and there have been various meetings. I have worked in various organisations and I have a level of training. Political parties have volunteers. I have never seen or experienced with any organisation what I am hearing about the Coast Guard throughout the country. Not just in Doolin but around the country there is a very different picture. What I am hearing from the witnesses and the management team is that they are not seeing it. This, in and of itself, is a red flag to me. It should also be a red flag to Mr. Clonan and the management team.

I represent a political party. There is a broad political spectrum on the committee. Every one of us is hearing the same thing and it is the worst picture although not in terms of the language used. It reflects a terrible environment for volunteers and workers across the board. They speak about widespread bullying, a dilution of services and people being afraid to speak out for fear of recrimination. They are literally seeking medical support for mental ill-health. This is deeply concerning.

This cannot be explained away with a process of change. From the perspective of this committee, we cannot ignore it. We cannot explain it away. It has not been explained in what we have heard. Does Mr. Clonan hear this? Does it concern him? Does he have a plan? Some of what I hear is that there is a disconnect and a failure to engage. Whatever Mr. Clonan may say about the processes and the level of engagement it is not enough. There is a failing within it. Does Mr Clonan hear from the representative group that has been established and other quarters in the way we have? We can share this information with him in a particular way. People tell us they do not want to be associated with the comments because of a fear of recrimination. It is very important that Mr. Clonan and the management team hear it and respond to it. What does Mr. Clonan have to say on this?