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Fearon challenged on
Malin Head findings
04.07.08
THE AUTHOR of a
"factually inaccurate" report that has put the
future of Malin Head Coast Guard as a marine rescue
co-ordination centre in jeopardy will have to prove
his case, according to local Senator Cecilia
Keaveney.
John Fearon, an assistant secrecretary in the
Department of Transport, appeared on Wednesday at a
meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee. |
Staff from Valentia and
Malin Head travelled to Dublin for the meeting.
Senator Keaveney questioned Mr Fearon on the
validity of what was contained in his report to
Minister Dempsey.
“Minister Dempsey is awaiting the second report from
Mr Fearon. It is important to me that it is more
factually accurate than the last one would appear to
have been. Indeed the time lag between reports has, |
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I feel, assisted in the
Malin Head facility being advantaged by a number of
developments in recent years.
"The people of Inishowen believe what is not broken
should not be fixed. This adage has survived many
generations and still remains a very wise
reasoning," said Senator Keaveney after the meeting.
Mr Fearon told the joint hearing that while the
Department was pressing ahead with prioritising the
issue of the east coast facility, the decision for
the west was now not the priority for decision.
Senator Keaveney added: "Speaking to Mr Fearon after
the meeting he confirmed that tenders have been
sought for four station points for Malin Head to
link it to the second ICS. He stated that the
existing staff will be retained in their current
jobs both at Malin and Valentia.
"The Transport Committee have indicated that they
now wish to discuss the outstanding issues with
Minister Dempsey and indeed Mr Fearon himself was
asked to come back to the committee by
correspondence with clarifications and evidence to
support answers given in the course of the two hour
session today," she added. |
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