Keith Swanick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the potential for an all-party solution. Those of us who work in the emergency services respond when the bleep goes off. We treat the patient who presents in front of us. We deal with the fire and do our best. It is not the time to examine the causes during the emergency, but in the cold light of day one often thinks about what is called contributory negligence. Surely if a person enters the water against the expressed wishes of the Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána or other authorities, he or she should be liable for all costs associated with his or her rescue. We are only talking about incidents which take place while a full red weather warning has been issued by the Coast Guard. Eugene Clonan of the Irish Coast Guard was clear that people should stay away from the coastline and the water when he said:

I’d like to reiterate for recreational users to stay off the water. This is an unprecedented weather system that we’re going through. We have not experienced this before and we want people to stay safe. We urge people to stay away from the coastline.

We might examine whether an all-party solution to this issue might be found. We might also consider the idea of contributory negligence in this regard and whether some costs may be attributed to the people who are wasting the time of the emergency services.