Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail)

Today I want to highlight the work of the RNLI following the publication of the data for 2024. Across the 46 stations on the island of Ireland, lifeboat crews launched 881 times last year and volunteer crews brought 1,007 people to safety. Some 234 of the launches were carried out in the hours of darkness. In my county, Galway, the crews' work was especially important as the RNLI rescue figures for 2024 show the charity lifeboats in Clifden, Galway city and the Aran Islands had a total of 104 rescue launches, coming to the aid of 94 people and with 38 of the launches carried out in the hours of darkness. This is extraordinary work by a charity that perhaps does not get the recognition it deserves and whose volunteers are lifesavers who drop everything else when needed to run the lifeboat station, often at considerable risk to themselves. Their busiest time of the year is upcoming and they are seeking to raise funds that will help their life-saving service continue, through their national fundraising effort, the Mayday Mile. I will certainly be supporting the cause and I urge all in a position to do so across the Houses to do likewise.