Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Varadkar. I wish to raise this issue again in a public forum. In July for many members from within the fishing community and along the west coast from Malin Head to Valentia it was a case of déjà vu or ground-hog day coming back to bite us with respect to the Malin Head and Valentia scenarios. The reality is that we are faced with a situation in this country where reconfigurations are taking place throughout the State boards. All sectors, bar none, are included in the reconfiguration options.

Let us consider the process since July. I wish to acknowledge the type of political process that has been employed. In fairness, it has been cross-community, cross-sector, cross-Border and cross-political in nature. There has been constructive engagement and this reflects the mood of the people from within the coastal voluntary services, within the fishing community and internally within the staff of the Coast Guard. I am keen to see how far advanced this constructive mechanism has come. I commend individuals from within the Coast Guard. I recall the Minister travelled to Malin Head on 27 July. He was accompanied by Chris Reynolds, head of the Coast Guard. That served as an interesting forum to discuss the various permutations within the sector. Certainly, we had a disagreement on what would represent the best mechanism to start off the conversation. I was keen to bring in various sectors and members of the community. In fairness, the Minister was insistent that he wanted to find out what was happening in the area and what services were being employed. The divisional manager at the Coast Guard station was interested in putting forward ideas to the Minister and these ideas have been put back into the system.

The Minister stated he would not accept any recommendation made in the Fisher report until he had his own thought process analysed. The hearings by the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications provided people with another opportunity to put across their points of view. It is welcome that extra time has been provided to allow Fisher consultants to undertake a further review. While I am regularly critical of consultancies for the sake of having them, this one allowed people time to get their heads around different reconfigurations.

I have raised the issue today because of the indicative timeframe of the end of October given in regard to a possible announcement on the issue. We are now approaching December and the Minister has had time to consider the further review undertaken by Fisher consultants. It would be welcome if he could update the House on the current position in terms of a decision being announced.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Before I respond on this issue, I would like to divert slightly and endorse the view expressed earlier by Deputy Humphreys. I support the proposed development of a plaza around College Green. If we were to develop a Luas service there and ban cars from the area and, possibly, construct a tunnel underneath, it could be a fabulous space. We have preferential shares in Bank of Ireland which we could perhaps exchange for the building in due course.

Turning to the substantive issue, I thank Deputy Joe McHugh for raising it. Value for money reviews of the Coast Guard and marine surveying functions of my Department have identified a number of issues which need to be addressed in Ireland's maritime transport safety and marine emergency response regimes. They include enhancing Ireland's pollution preparedness and response capability; improving Coast Guard volunteer training and management; addressing deficiencies in legislation relating to maritime safety and addressing various measures to promote greater efficiencies within the services.

I informed the Government in July that I would consider the Fisher reviews in detail and prepare an action plan to address the deficiencies identified. When I published the reviews in July, I made it clear that I would not accept or reject any of the recommendations made until a full assessment of the proposals had been undertaken and actions prioritised to address the issues identified as requiring attention. In publishing the reports I emphasised that preparing the action plan provided a valuable opportunity to create more efficient and effective maritime safety regulatory arrangements and emergency response services. At the same time, it is important to recognise that resources available to the maritime services are very limited and have to be deployed on a prioritised basis and as effectively and efficiently as possible to address the most urgent needs. The action plan is nearing conclusion and I expect to return to the Government in the coming weeks.

One aspect of the review which has attracted significant interest is that of the future of the co-ordination centres at Dublin, Valentia and Malin Head. There has been considerable interest in this matter. I appreciate that in seeking to protect local services passions can overflow. However, I was disappointed by the treatment of officials of my Department at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. While most of those in attendance, including Deputy Joe McHugh, engaged constructively on the matter, contributions from a small number of members were deeply unfair and unjustified. I express my disappointment and disdain at the conduct of these members who embarrassed themselves and all of us, as parliamentarians.

In my Department's review of the Coast Guard and marine survey office services all options had to be considered. This necessarily included looking at whether the current configuration of co-ordination centres was appropriate and whether changes to it would deliver greater efficiency. This was all within the context of the expenditure and human resources constraints under which my Department operates. However, following careful consideration of the various options available, I will be proposing that the three centres remain open and that none be closed. Rather, through the utilisation of the most modern communications and IT infrastructure across a single national Coast Guard network, I will be proposing that the three centres be more closely aligned and integrated. Therefore, the current structure of three Coast Guards centres at Dublin, Malin Head and Valentia will continue to provide the current service but will be required to deliver new efficiencies in how these services are provided. External consultants are undertaking work on the details to assist in the preparation of the action plan.

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Minister's reply, in particular the sentence which states the three centres will remain open. This will be welcomed by all those involved in the sector, be it at voluntary or professional level in the Coast Guard, the fishing community or coastal communities in general. This outcome is the result of the application of common sense at the helm with due consideration being given to need closely aligning with process. It has been a lengthy process. While the current process commenced in July, the issue has been with us for the best part of 30 years.

I acknowledge that the Minister is awaiting completion of the action plan. It is hoped the reconfiguration and insight provided by personnel within the Coast Guard will be closely considered. I know that people within the sector have the capability, vision and expertise to make this work. I acknowledge that operation of the three centres, given the constraints in terms of the recruitment embargo, will be a challenge. However, those involved can make this work. I compliment the staff who have shown vision in this process. I also compliment them on not falling into the trap of making a political football out of this sensitive and important matter.

I also acknowledge the Minister's role in this matter, in particular informing us in advance of the announcement of receipt of the report in his office in July. He said at the time that he was prepared to listen and would not react or be forced into a decision based on a consultant's report. It is welcome that he and his officials have engaged on the issue. I acknowledge the work of his officials who attended the recent joint committee meeting. I do not intend to get involved in a discussion on his comments on that meeting which were directed at particular individuals. The officials have been competent throughout this process and had a keen listening ear to proposals from politicians across the political spectrum and community sector.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for his comments and invitation to visit Malin Head over the summer which provided a useful opportunity for me to see the centre in operation. As I said, significant changes in the Coast Guard in terms of efficiencies, information technology and structures will be required. There will also be a need to free up a particular number of staff from the Coast Guard and Marine Survey Office to do more in the space of training and, in particular, pollution control. The action plan should be completed in the next couple of weeks. I see no reason to defer announcing that we will continue to operate the three centre model under the new regime. That will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.