Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Transport if he will bring forward measures to provide for an emergency towing vessel for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23202/06]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I have previously pointed out to the House that I am aware of the importance of providing emergency towing vessel (ETV) facilities to protect our coasts, including the possibility of sharing such services with the UK in relation to the East coast. There may also be advantages in having an EU-wide approach to this issue.

An internal Working Group set up in the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to manage and progress the feasibility of having ETV capacity concluded that such capacity should be provided to service the West Coast and, separately, to service the East Coast. The Group also recognised that the provision of the service would be very costly. In both cases a Public Private Partnership process was recommended. However, while the benefits of having an ETV facility are known, the very significant costs involved has meant that, in the context of other marine emergency response priorities, it has not been possible to date to put permanent ETV arrangements in place.

The Irish Coast Guard of the Department is continuing to examine this issue, and will advise me on suitable options in due course.