Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department is committed to ensuring that the Irish Coast Guard service remains fully capable and equipped to meet current and future challenges. An open recruitment process is currently under way to fill several senior leadership positions in the Irish Coast Guard, IRCG, including a new appointment at assistant secretary level to lead this vital service and an open recruitment process for the director of the Irish Coast Guard role. In setting the strategic direction, the new assistant secretary will serve as a full member of the Department of Transport’s management board and will oversee a review across all aspects, including strategy, structure, roles, culture and governance of the Irish Coast Guard service. This will be the first time an appointment will be made at assistant secretary level to lead the IRCG. The main responsibilities will include setting the strategic direction on what will save the most lives, including improving safety on the water for all citizens and delivering excellent customer service, working effectively with a wide range of stakeholders; leading and managing the Coast Guard function across a range of administrative, professional and technical functions, grades and volunteers; providing excellence in corporate leadership and fostering positive leadership practices at every level in the service to execute strategy effectively; and driving and delivering a transformation programme for IRCG, following a review across all aspects of the coast guard service including strategy, structure, roles, culture and governance to ensure that the IRCG is best placed to succeed in the 21st century. An extensive engagement programme with volunteers and staff, including an independent review of the role of the volunteer, will be undertaken to inform and guide this work.

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