Joomla Software solutions Template

Seanad Transcript  8th May 2008
Valentia

Senator Mark Daly:  We previously debated the issue of the closure of Valentia marine rescue co-ordination centre. It is to be hoped this issue will be debated shortly by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport. I wish to raise the issue of a meeting on 29 April 2008 between the management of the Coast Guard and the local community. The Coast Guard said both the semi-State body, ESB, and Eircom were not telling the truth when they said the facilities they provide to Valentia marine rescue co-ordination centre are up to standard. It acknowledged that the facility is understaffed which, considering the vital work the centre does, is a serious matter. It beggars belief that the Coast Guard has now given a new reason for the closure of the centre, namely, that there is apparently a security threat in Valentia. It says the centre is not secure enough because it is liable to a terrorist attack.

Senator Joe O’Toole:  From Fungi the dolphin.

Senator Mark Daly:  I thank Senator O’Toole and that was my reaction too when I heard that the senior management in the Coast Guard actually believe this notion and used it as the reason for the closure in discussions with the local community in Valentia. The man who made that statement is in charge of the Coast Guard. He has now given a flippant excuse for the closure — the threat of a terrorist attack — and this man contributed to the report responsible for closing the centre. He says such a facility will be more secure in Shannon. I am sure that Osama bin Laden——

Senator David Norris:  There are no weapons of mass destruction there.

An Cathaoirleach:  Senator Daly without interruption, please.

Senator Mark Daly:  ——does not see Valentia as the Achilles heel of western civilisation nor does he think that if he puts the Valentia marine rescue co-ordination centre out of action, he will cause the collapse of the civilised world.
This other man to whom I have referred gave information to the report that is causing the closure of the centre. The report has been dissected by the local community and by the members of staff in Valentia Coast Guard station and it has been proven in this House, while he was sitting in that chair, that the report is a pack of lies. I wish to put this on record and I hope the Leader takes up this issue. I have written to the man in question asking if he has written to the Departments of Defence and Transport outlining his concerns as to the security threat in Valentia.