Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Defence the action he has taken to promote greater cooperation and knowledge sharing between the Coastguard, the Navy and Air Corps to ensure that the waters surrounding Ireland are safe for seafarers in coastal communities. [21976/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue region, for pollution and salvage response in the marine environment, and for marine safety awareness. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities including in relation to Search and Rescue. In this regard, the Naval Service and Air Corps provide support to the Irish Coast Guard as the need arises and within their available capability.

A Service Level Agreement is currently being finalised between my Department and the Department of Transport for the provision of services to the Irish Coast Guard by the Defence Forces. The overall operation and implementation of the Service Level Agreement will be monitored by a Steering Group comprising representatives of my Department, the Defence Forces, the Department of Transport and the Irish Coast Guard. At an operational level, the parties to the Agreement are committed to the achievement of its objectives through co-operation and partnership between the main service providers namely, the Naval Service, the Air Corps, the Army, and the Irish Coast Guard.

Officials from my Department and the Defence Forces are represented on the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee, which is chaired by the Irish Coast Guard. The IMSAR Committee meets twice yearly and its functions are to keep under review the general arrangements for marine search and rescue in Ireland, to consider the implications of any intended changes in equipment, deployment or organization in any arm of the search and rescue organisation in advance of such changes, and to consider as necessary liaison with neighbouring search and rescue organisations and any regional search and rescue agreements in which Ireland is a participant. The Defence Forces also participate in regular search and rescue exercises with the Irish Coast Guard.

Officials from my Department and the Defence Forces are also represented on the National Maritime Security Committee, as is the Irish Coast Guard. The function of the National Maritime Security Committee, which is chaired by the Department of Transport, is to provide advice in relation to maritime security policy and to provide for the co-ordination of the various agencies involved. This provides another useful forum for the exchange of experience and information between the Defence Forces and the Irish Coast Guard.

I am satisfied that these mechanisms serve to facilitate greater co-operation and knowledge sharing between the Irish Coast Guard and the Defence Forces with regard to maritime safety.