Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make provision for the establishment of a body to be known as the Irish Coast Guard Authority, replacing that division of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport known as the Irish Coast Guard, to designate said body as a principal response agency to engage in the management and co-ordination of responses to major emergency events within the State and which shall serve in co-operation with An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive, local authorities and other relevant bodies as may be prescribed by the Minister and to provide for related matters.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce on behalf of Fianna Fáil the Irish Coast Guard Authority Bill 2018, the purpose of which is to place the Irish Coast Guard on a statutory basis. As we are all aware, the Irish Coast Guard is one of Ireland's most important and respected organisations. Day in and day out, its members place their lives on the line to steward coastal communities and all those on the seas to safety. The sheer risk and danger involved in this role were highlighted by the tragic deaths of four members of the Irish Coast Guard off the coast of County Mayo in March 2017. May their souls rest in peace.

As a body, the Irish Coast Guard was established in 1990 to handle search and rescue operations in a marine setting, enforce Ireland's marine pollution regime and provide a response to marine casualty incidents. The Irish Coast Guard is one of Ireland's four principal emergency services, the other three being the fire service, the National Ambulance Service and An Garda Síochána. It is essentially the emergency service that operates within the marine space. We can all agree that having an effective marine safety service is of immense importance, especially given Ireland's coastal nature and the extensive marine activities that take place here. However, many people will be shocked to learn that, unlike its other emergency service counterparts, the Irish Coast Guard does not operate on a statutory basis. There is a certain sense in the Irish Coast Guard community - I say this without rancour or blame - that their position is uncertain. Understandably, given the amount of work done by them and the dedication they bring to the table, Irish Coast Guard volunteers and staff would like to feel their status is equal to that of the other emergency services and that their organisation could not be disregarded at a moment's notice. For this reason, Fianna Fáil is bringing forward the Bill which will create a statutory Irish Coast Guard Authority. It will not alter the functions of the Irish Coast Guard, but it does acknowledge the stellar work it already does and will ensure it will continue to be able to do it. I hope the Bill will have the support of the Minister who does not live too far from the coast, as well that of my colleagues in all parties and none.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Last year the Irish Coast Guard assisted over 3,300 people and saved 335 lives.

From people overboard to ships sinking 30 km off the coast and everything in between, it protects our fishing communities and our coastlines. Over 40 units of the Coast Guard protect 7,500 km of our coastline. In my home county, Wexford, there are Rosslare, Carnsore, Curracloe, Fethard-on-Sea and Kilmore Quay Coast Guard stations, some of them in a deplorable state. Members of the Coast Guard do their difficult job often in the harshest of weather conditions including huge waves, driving rain, hail, sleet, snow and high winds. Every time they go out, they put their lives at risk and we know from the tragedies suffered that is a very real risk. The loss of Rescue 116 and the lives of Captain Dara Fitzpatrick, Captain Mark Duffy and crew members Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith off the coast of Mayo and separately the loss of volunteer Caitríona Lucas in recent years is testimony to that. It is phenomenal to think they do all this on a voluntary basis.

There are four blue light services in Ireland: An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, the fire service and the Coast Guard but the Coast Guard stands out as the only one of the four not protected by statutory legislation. As a consequence, it struggles for representation, recognition and protection. This legislation seeks to correct this by putting the Coast Guard on an equal footing with the other blue light services. I was very happy to work with Deputy Troy in advance of this Bill being prepared and Deputy Troy deserves great credit for his work in this area. This Bill is fair and reasonable, is the just thing to do and is the least the Coast Guard deserves.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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No.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."