Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Shanahan has agreed that I can speak before him, but I will be brief. Further to the previous speaker, I am afraid I have heard the same things, both from constituents in Clare, which I represent, but also from current and former members of the Coast Guard across Ireland, not limited to Clare, more than 100 miles from Clare, with regard to the fear of recrimination and fear of speaking out and a certain disconnect. The witnesses might not perceive the disconnect, but I have been told of a disconnect between volunteers on the ground and management, which they feel has no understanding of where they are coming from or what they do. That must be addressed.

There were HR difficulties in Clare which have been very well ventilated for some time. A HR firm was sent to deal with them. If I am correct, Mr. Clonan was a naval officer. If there was a dispute between crew members on a naval boat, am I right in saying that a commanding officer would ultimately deal with the issue? It would not be a case of letting it fester and, having gone back to base, engaging a HR firm and sending someone to talk to those involved.

The Coast Guard is a volunteer unit. I question the management structure but perhaps it is by necessity. We have a naval officer and a civil servant. I am pleased they are here. I do not wish to personalise it. There seems to be very little input from the volunteers on the ground that are relied on to put their lives at risk. In looking at the structure, objectively, I see that there is a disconnect. We have volunteers and almost the officer class – the civil servant and the naval officer – and there is very little connection between the two. Perhaps that is something that is not within the remit of the witnesses. They are doing the job they were appointed to do, but it is something that we need to look at. How do we make sure that the volunteers on the ground are represented in management? In the Garda, one can join, go to Templemore and go right up to the top. Likewise, with the navy, one goes in as a commissioned officer and can go right to the top. In the Coast Guard there is a feeling that volunteers are just there to put their lives on the line, but they are never going to be in senior management positions.