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Life-line for Malin Coast Guard
28.11.12
MALIN Head Coast Guard
station has itself been thrown a life-line with
confirmation this evening that it is to remain open.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed to Deputy
Joe McHugh today that the three Coast Guard
co-ordination stations at Malin, Valentia and Dublin
would remain part of the country's maritime
emergency response strategy.
Mr Varadkar said he would be proposing that none
would close.
"Rather, through the utilisation of the most modern
communications and IT infrastructure across a single
national Coast Guard network, I will be proposing
that the three centres will be more closely aligned
and integrated.
"Therefore the current structure of three Coast
Guard Centres in Dublin, Malin and Valentia will
continue to provide their current service but will
be required to deliver new efficiencies in how these
services are provided.
"External consultants are undertaking work on the
details of this at the moment to assist in the
preparation of the Action Plan," added Mr Varadkar. |
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The Irish Coast Guard station at
Malin Head. |
He said while he
appreciated the level of local anxiety at the
prospect of closures, he objected to how his
officials were treated at a recent meeting.
"I appreciate that in seeking to protect local
services, passions can overflow. However, I should
like to put on the record that I was disappointed at
the treatment of officials from my Department at a
recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Transport
and Communications. "While most of those in
attendance, including Deputy McHugh engaged
constructively on the matter, there were a small
number of members whose contribution was deeply
unfair and unjustified.
"I want to record on the record of the House my
disappointment in the conduct of those members, and
I am sure when they review the transcript of the
meeting they will withdraw some of the comments
made," he added. |
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