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Malin Head Coast Guard on
the brink
06.10.08
Faux pas or done deal?
PRESSURE is mounting on Transport Minister Noel
Dempsey to clarify confusion surrounding the future
of Malin Head Coast Guard station.
It follows an apparent admission by Minister of
State for Europe, Dick Roche on RTE television, that
Shannon had been chosen as the location for the
flagship West Coast Marine Rescue Co-Ordination
Centre.
Whether Mr Roche made a faux pas in prematurely
announcing Mr Dempsey's decision or whether his
information was incorrect, has been the cause of
confusion and distress in Donegal and Kerry.
The Department of Transport swiftly moved to quell
the growing disquiet with a hastily despatched email
to local news editors yesterday morning denying that
a decision had been made.
"No decision has been taken on the location of the
West Coast Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre
despite reports on RTE yesterday to the contrary. A
decision will be taken shortly on where the (centre)
will be based," said the statement. |
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Mr Roche's apparent
confirmation that Shannon had been chosen came on
RTE's 'The Week in Politics' programme on Sunday.
The story was flagged up in earlier news bulletins
that day including the Six One News and on the RTE
website. But by early evening, the story claiming
Shannon and Dublin would receive upgrades, could |
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no longer be accessed
via the website. Mr Roche also indicated that Malin
Head and Valentia would be retained as part of the
Coast Guard service and that no personnel would be
moved out. But it is widely accepted that if the two
stations don’t get upgraded, they will eventually be
phased out.
Sinn Féin's Cllr Pádraig MacLochlainn and Fine
Gael's Deputy Joe McHugh were in Malin Head last
Friday with RTE as it compiled the story about the
future of the coast guard station. Staff at the
Malin Head station described their surprise at how
the story later developed.
Malin Head Coast Guard divisional controller Mick
McGarry yesterday said he was "taken aback" when he
watched the evening news.
"We had received no official announcement and heard
the story on the evening news like everyone else. We
got an email this morning from the Coast Guard
director telling us that no decision had been taken.
That's as much as we know unless someone tells us
otherwise," said Mr McGarry.
Some sources believe Mr Dempsey was due to announce
his decision this week. Mr Roche's comments have now
either softened the blow or added fuel to an already
inflamed debate.
Deputy McHugh yesterday called for immediate
clarification. Along with his Kerry colleague,
Deputy Tom Sheahan, they submitted a Joint Special
Notice Question to An Ceann Comhairle, Kerry-based
John O'Donoghue TD yesterday, requesting Dáil
business to be suspended today to allow a 20 to
30-minute debate on the Coast Guard debacle.
Meanwhile, following a meeting with Tánaiste Mary
Coughlan in Donegal Town yesterday, Senator Cecilia
Keaveney said she received clarification that no
decision has been taken regarding Malin Head.
"The situation in relation to the Coast Guard in
Malin Head is unchanged from the meetings that were
held with the relevant officials prior to the
summer. There is to be a decision taken in the near
future but contrary to recent reports, the Tánaiste
and Minister Dempsey’s office have both confirmed to
me that there is no news yet," said Senator Keaveney. |
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