Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

I thank the Leader for his kind offer of a debate on the proposed closure of the vital coastguard stations at Valentia and Malin. Could he clarify whether he intends to have this debate next week or the following week? The issue has become more urgent since we recently spoke about it, as a Deputy in the other House has obtained, under the Freedom of Information Act, a report which recommends the closure of the stations, despite the fact that the then Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, signed off two years ago on a Deloitte & Touche report which recommended that the stations be upgraded in view of their strategic importance and sterling service to the State. The document recommending their closure relies on false assumptions and inaccurate data on electricity and telecommunications which, as I said here the other day, have been blown out of the water by the former chairman of the ESB. I thank the Leader for his kind offer but it is important that we arrange the debate soon.