Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

The Leader knows I never mean to be political. It was the only realistic and sensible decision that could have been reached because we all had recognised that Valentia and Malin Head had functioned successfully and both had such a wonderful history of service to their areas, the seafarers and everyone else. They had the people with the expertise. I could never understand, and I expressed this view to the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, on a few occasions, the reason the Government ever contemplated closing both those stations for all the reasons Senator O'Toole and Senator Daly have outlined. It never made sense to centralise those services. I welcome the technology upgrade the Minister has announced for both those stations.

I recognise the efforts in the previous Parliament and this Parliament of Senator O'Toole, Senator Keaveney, the Donegal Deputies, the Kerry Deputies, the Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Healy-Rae, my own colleague, Deputy Tom Sheahan——