Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the programme for Government to promote greater cooperation and knowledge sharing between the Coast Guard, the Naval Service and the Air Corps. [20178/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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The White Paper on Defence provides for a role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to assist and support the civil authorities in relation to Search and Rescue. The commitment given in the agreed Programme for Government to promote greater cooperation and knowledge sharing between the Coast Guard, the Navy and Air Corps is to ensure that the waters surrounding this island are safe for seafarers and coastal communities. 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. The Naval Service and Air Corps provide support to the civil authorities in this regard as the need arises and within their available capability.

A Service Level Agreement is currently being finalised between my Department and the Irish Coast Guard for the provision of services to the 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 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.

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 organisation in any arm of the Committee, 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 training exercises with the Irish Coast Guard.

The Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service and the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps are represented on the Marine Emergency Advisory Group which is a high level committee chaired by the Director of the Irish Coast Guard. The role of this group is to assemble as a task force during major emergencies to advise on the appropriate response; to review and amend any plans in existence for dealing with marine emergencies in territorial waters and the Irish Search and Rescue Region and to approve new contingency plans; to consider the implications of any intended changes in equipment, deployment or organisation in any relevant agency in advance of such changes and to respond appropriately; and to exercise the authority to commit the resources of their own agency to the emergency response. The Naval Service and the Irish Coast Guard are represented on the National Maritime Security Committee chaired by Department of Transport which provides another useful forum for the exchange of experience and information between the Defence Forces and the civil authorities.

The Air Corps is represented on the Ireland Search and Rescue Region Aviation Forum, a working group chaired by the Irish Coast Guard which meets twice yearly to review the technical and operational aspects of marine training missions involving helicopter assets, to exchange information on new techniques and equipment, to explore areas of commonality, and to highlight and report on specific joint operational problems to the IMSAR Committee. I have recently approved the nomination of an Air Corps officer to the Irish Coast Guard Future Helicopter Study Group which is being established within the Department of Transport under the chair of the Director of the Coast Guard to define the specifications and contracting process for the future provision of marine emergency helicopter services for the Irish Coast Guard. I am satisfied with the progress that is being made in regard to promoting greater co-operation and knowledge sharing between the Naval Service, Air Corps and the Irish Coast Guard with regard to maritime safety.