Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

On emergency co-ordination, the plan was to close the Dublin centre and transfer the staff to Valentia. The reality is that there is no appetite among the staff to transfer there. It has been pointed out that it would be extremely dangerous to transfer the centre to Valentia given that the vast majority of emergency-related activities take place on the east coast. The connection between the men on the ground and those who co-ordinate rescue missions would be broken entirely. Whatever the plan is for Drogheda, it has absolutely nothing to do with the co-ordination of sea rescue. There are nuclear ships and other vessels passing along the east coast and this is where the demand is. I urge the Minister to re-examine the report. It stated two centres would be sufficient but it was never dreamt that the centre in Dublin, on the east coast, would be closed.

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