Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time with me and I agree with his comments. The Government has embarked on a ridiculous policy by trying to close the Valentia and Malin Head marine rescue co-ordination centres. When I first asked for a debate on this issue last October, a debate on Seagate, which was withdrawing from the north west, was taking place. I stated that given the economic climate in a globalised economy, one can understand that if businesses pull out of an area, one cannot always blame the Government. In this instance however, the Government can be blamed if it intends to withdraw services from area that deeply needs employment. I refer to counties Kerry and Donegal, which have the highest unemployment rates in the State. It is ridiculous that the Government has taken this position, which is not the position originally taken by it.

While I listened to the Minister of State's speech today, a far better reply was delivered in 2003 when the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, was asked a question on the closure of the Dublin centre and the transfer of responsibility to Valentia and Malin Head. He said:

The decision to transfer the services [of the marine rescue co-ordination centre] from Dublin was taken on foot of a study of the coast guard . . . undertaken by independent consultants. Reflecting advances in modern communications technologies, the consultants recommended that the coast guard should operate two control centres as opposed to the three centres that exist at present. This approach will have the effect of achieving significant cost savings [by keeping Valentia and Malin Head open], thus enabling other elements of the coast guard service to be developed, which in turn will lead to further improvements in our marine emergency response services.

He continued by stating the objective of the Department was "that the remaining two centres at Valentia and Malin [Head] will be developed to handle all emergencies around [the] coast, on inland waters, . . . mountain, cliff and cave rescue". Significantly, he stated, "communications technology today is such that the geographical location of the co-ordination centres is less important now than in the past" in this context. He also added, "Government policies on decentralisation from Dublin are . . . relevant to this decision".

What has happened in the past five years since the then Minister made those remarks? What has made the Government change its mind? Nothing has happened in respect of the upgrading and transfer of the aforementioned services to those two areas. I agree with the point made by Senator Coghlan when he stated that when one closes or fails to expand centres, people's lives are put at risk. The British House of Commons Select Committee on Transport recently has blamed continuing high marine casualty deaths on the closure of marine rescue co-ordination centres. Members should note this is not simply an issue of regional development but also is an issue of safety for those on our seas.

I attended a public meeting on Malin Head, which was packed with standing room only. The meeting heard from a range of marine interests, from search and recovery to people who worked within the Malin Head marine rescue co-ordination centre, as well as different people who worked in Coast Guard stations and people from the islands. They are appalled at the Government's decision. The Government needs to reverse its stated position on these stations.

A Fianna Fáil Senator referred to the lies in this report and we have the documentation. The report presented to the Minister is not factual. Regardless of this, the Minister has accepted lie after lie. I am disappointed he is not present in the Chamber to take this matter. It is time for him to come forward and say that he will continue to keep the commitment his predecessor gave in the Dáil in 2003 to the residents of Malin Head and Valentia Island .

The Government will say that this change will not result in any jobs being lost and that none of the staff will be forced to move from Valentia Island or Malin Head. That may be true but when staff seek promotion, they will not be offered it unless they move to the new centres. When members of staff retire their positions will not be replaced. In effect, this decision will result in jobs being loss in Inishowen and Valentia. That is unacceptable and I cannot stand for it.

I ask the Minister to echo the words spoken by the Leader of this House prior to Christmas when he asked for all-party consensus on this issue to oppose the decision by the Government to remove the Malin Head and Valentia marine co-ordination centres, a position echoed by the Ceann Comhairle in the Dáil. The Minister said that he will take on board the views of Members in this debate when he makes a decision. I ask him to seriously take them on board and not merely use this debate as a paper exercise.