Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Coast Guard Service

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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215. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will intervene in the ongoing issues between the Irish Coast Guard management and volunteers which has resulted in the Doolin branch being taken off the board and left that area with no operational search and rescue service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54525/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The temporary standing down of Doolin Coast Guard Unit operations is a proportionate response having regard to ongoing attempts to address the unfortunate differences that have existed within the unit and their impact on the unit. Equally, the recent resignations of several Doolin Coast Guard volunteers have contributed to this decision.

The key objective is to ensure the safety of the volunteers. The action is being taken in compliance with the SAR Assurance obligations set out in the National SAR Plan. In the meantime, the Coast Guard is deploying various contingencies based on an assessment of risk. All other Coast Guard Units, shoreline and cliff rescue services remain in place, along with the 4 Search and Rescue Coast Guard helicopters. The RNLI, Community Rescue Boats, and Naval services will continue to assist particularly in those areas of greatest risk until the issue has been resolved.

The Irish Coast Guard is committed to supporting the near 900 dedicated volunteers who help provide the important and life-saving services of the IRCG. Ongoing consultation with the Coast Guard volunteers is key to the success of the Coast Guard. For this reason, Coast Guard volunteers have for some time had a representative body called the Coastal Unit Advisory Group. This Group represents Irish Coast Guard volunteers and provides advice and input to the Coast Guard under agreed terms of reference between management and the volunteers. This Group meets regularly and are involved in working with Coast Guard management to deliver a world class service while protecting the safety and wellbeing of the volunteers within the Coast Guard units.

I have been in touch with the Group and arrangements are currently being finalised for me to meet with the Group shortly.

The Irish Coast Guard will continue to offer support to all those affected by this event, and with the aim to strengthen the unit’s management structure, provide relevant training and mediation services as may be required, and return the unit to operational readiness as quickly as practicable.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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216. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 23 June 2021, if further consideration has been given to the fact that although there have been no complaints lodged by full-time professionals of the Irish Coast Guard, there is no effective mechanism to record complaints or grievances by volunteers. [54526/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The doctrinal document in relation to HR-related matters involving the volunteers is the IRCG Code of Conduct. In 2019, IRCG completed a review of this Code which includes the Grievances and Appeals procedure. This review was done with the assistance of an external HR consultancy in order to ensure its procedures were fair and fit for purpose for an organisation like the IRCG with over 900 volunteers. This review also involved a consultation process involving the volunteers which was managed through the Coastal Unit Advisory Group (CUAG) - the representative structure for the volunteers.

The result of this review was a new Volunteer Code which was launched in November 2019 with a programme of training rolled out over the course of 2019 to ensure the process and procedures were clearly understood and implemented correctly and uniformly.

The Coast Guard's Code was recently reviewed by an external professional HR consultancy and its procedures are deemed to be best practice. In the event of difficult HR cases external professional advice is sought to assist with the cases and adherence with procedures and also to provide mediation or team building and training on HR management.

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the evidence he has on measures taken by his Department to resolve the ongoing issues reported by volunteers of the Irish Coast Guard against the management and governance structures. [54527/21]

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is committed to supporting the near 900 dedicated volunteers who help provide the important and life-saving services of the IRCG. In regard to representation within the volunteer cadre of the Coast Guard, the Coastal Unit Advisory Group has been in existence for over 20 years. The Coastal Unit Advisory Group (CUAG) is the dedicated body in place, made up of elected volunteers and full time staff to represent the interests of the Coast Guard volunteers. Recent press coverage includes accounts of volunteers who have either been dismissed from the organisation or have resigned. While managing nearly 900 volunteers HR issues are bound to arise. The Coast Guard's Code was recently reviewed by an external professional HR consultancy and its procedures are deemed to be best practice. In the event of difficult HR cases external professional advice is sought to assist with the cases and adherence with procedures and also to provide mediation or team building and training on HR management.

I have been in touch with the Group above and arrangements are currently being finalised for me to meet with the Group shortly.

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