Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will enact legislation in order that the Irish Coast Guard can become a stand alone primary response agency; if he has met with representatives from the Coast Guard to discuss these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14222/17]

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I wish to ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will enact legislation in order that the Irish Coast Guard can become a stand alone primary response agency; if he has met with representatives from the Coast Guard to discuss these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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On my own behalf and that of my Department, I would like again to express our deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to all those affected by the recent tragedy, particularly to the family members of the crew of Rescue 116 and also to thank all those individuals and organisations who have been so generous in giving their time and resources to support the search effort. The full resources of the State remain committed to ensure that every effort is being made to locate the wreckage of Rescue 116 and the three missing crew.

My Department and I have the utmost respect for the volunteers and helicopter crew who provide a search and rescue service on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard, a division of my Department.

3 o’clock

Their bravery, dedication and commitment is nothing short of remarkable.

As regards the question, it is true that the Irish Coast Guard is not a separately established legal entity. It is a division of my Department. It was established as such under a Government decision in 1990, initially as the Irish Marine Emergency Service, the name was later changed to the Irish Coast Guard in 2000, and the division was subsequently transferred from the Department of the Marine to the Department of Transport in 2006. Notwithstanding its functional location as a division of my Department it is in all operational respects a stand-alone primary response agency. The Coast Guard has a number of functions, which include among other things, search and rescue and maritime pollution prevention and response. I am satisfied that the Coast Guard has sufficient powers as a division of my Department, to carry out its functions. These powers are augmented by the various pieces of merchant shipping and sea pollution legislation.

I am of the view, in light of the context set out above, that there is no need to place the Coast Guard on any additional statutory footing. It is difficult to identify any specific need for legislation, or to establish what the purpose of any legislation would be. Legislating for a voluntary group would give rise to very complex matters and in all probability the volunteer sector would not be covered in any such legislation, as is evidenced by the Civil Defence Act which does not contain any provisions in respect of its large volunteer force. The same applies to matters such as training standards, which are dynamic and constantly evolving, and which are not therefore an appropriate subject for legislation.

In these circumstances, and I am sure the Deputy will understand, I see no need to bring forward legislative proposals at this time. I see no underlying reasons why it would be necessary. Subject to being persuaded by the Deputy's remarks in the next two or three minutes, I have no intention of doing so.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Now, more than ever, we are aware of the important, often dangerous and admirable work of the Coast Guard. No one can deny the fantastic and important work which it carries out. In 2016 the service co-ordinated 2,500 incidents throughout its three marine rescue co-ordination centres and 405 people who were rescued were categorised as lives saved. The Coast Guard also assisted with the recovery of 45 bodies from our waters. It provides services to the HSE and investigates suspected pollution investigation missions. In recent times however, members of the Coast Guard have expressed frustration at the lack of the funding available to them and there have been requests seeking to put the Coast Guard on a legislative footing. Senior members of the Coast Guard have been quoted in the media as being frustrated at the lack of support and resources from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. They made fresh appeals last week to ensure the Coast Guard is equipped with access to its own fixed wind aircraft to provide top-cover in the wake of the Rescue 116 tragedy.

There is a complete lack of legislation on the Coast Guard. It is the only one of the blue light services not on a proper legislative footing. The Minister has stated before that the volunteer element of the Coast Guard is seeking legislation but I think it goes further than that. There are many issues with the Coast Guard. I think a review of the services and their needs is in order. Is the Minister agreeable to that?

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I am a bit at a loss. What the Deputy has said leaves me unconvinced about legislating for a voluntary group. The tributes which we have all paid to the Coast Guard in the last few days have all been deserved and indicate the great respect in which it is held but the fact is the Coast Guard is working. The vast majority of the Coast Guard comprises volunteers, to whom we should all be immensely grateful. Its operation is working in a very disciplined and very effective manner. The accidents are tragedies, which I suspect remind us of the extraordinary and very effective work that the Coast Guard does. The number of rescues that the Deputy has just mentioned in her speech is phenomenal and spectacular and they are something for which we have to be grateful. I have not experienced, as Minister, the expressions of frustration to which the Deputy has referred in any meaningful way and I would need some convincing to feel that she reflects the view of the majority of people in the Coast Guard.

Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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If the Coast Guard itself and the volunteers are requesting and putting to the Minister the need to be put on a legislative footing, and if they are also raising issues with the lack of resources and support that they feel they are getting from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, that should be enough to warrant the Minister agreeing to a review. We trust these volunteers and staff members with our lives every single day of the year. We should listen to them when they draw attention to problems in the Coast Guard. They are doing so because they feel there is a real need for them to be addressed. There is an onus on the Minister to address those needs, or at least to agree to carry out a review and take it from there. Will the Minister agree to do that?

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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This is something that I raised myself a number of weeks ago with the Minister. Perhaps there might be merit in meeting with the representative body of the Coast Guard, to listen to its concerns and proposals and perhaps not to knock it down so forcefully as the Minister has done today, and indeed did a number of weeks ago. Perhaps if the proposal that we put a number of weeks ago, or that of Deputy Munster, cannot meet with his approval he would meet with the representatives of the Coast Guard and listen to their concerns and see if they could be alleviated by himself and the officials in his Department.

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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In response to what Deputies Troy and Munster have said, I am certainly not going to refuse to meet anybody. It is not in my nature. I think both of the Deputies will know that from being in this House. I will be delighted to meet anybody who requests a meeting on reasonable grounds. Certainly if there are representatives of the Coast Guard who are unhappy with their situation I would be very happy to meet them. I will be delighted to hear what they have to say. I do not want there to be any controversy around the Coast Guard in the present circumstances. All I am saying is that my inclination at the moment is not to legislate in the terms the Deputy has spelt out because I think the Coast Guard is doing such a fantastic job. I do not believe it is necessary at this time, but I am very happy to meet representatives and to hear what they have to say if a credible and sensible request comes to me. In response to what the Deputies have said I will certainly meet them.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Questions 26 and 27 are in the name of Deputy Alan Farrell who is unavoidably absent and sends his apologies. We move to Question 28.