Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all involved for the huge work that is done and the volunteerism. The opening statements give testimony to the number of call-outs, the number of lives saved and we must be grateful and say thanks. Our job today is to ensure the mission statement in terms of the safety of the maritime transport sector and the obligations and responses to look after and protect those who are charged with doing the call-outs. It is important, and the Chairman touched on it, that if there is an issue with staff and local management then there must be a process whereby you can go one up or one aside in terms of a dispute resolution. The important thing here is that we must ensure that the coastal unit advisory group is inclusive. I cannot stress enough that it be inclusive and that it engages properly. Kieran Mulvey will do a good job, as he has done in the past. I would not want to pre-empt his outcome but one of the things I am sure he will come back with is that aspect of engagement. It is all about the issue of grievances and complaints. Again, I thank everybody involved and our witnesses today. We all appreciate what is being done and what people in their care do every day. We are very grateful. It is our job to ensure they are funded and that the support structures are in place and collectively it is our duty to make sure that the equipment and training are up to speed and is proper. If we learn anything from Rescue 116, there must be accountability and transparency and there needs to be scrutiny and oversight. That is important.