Gerard P. Craughwell demands emergency debate on SAR failures
Gerard P. Craughwell warned that the new search-and-rescue helicopter contract is failing to deliver 24-hour coverage and called for an emergency debate. He said the contractor has missed operational deadlines, raised safety concerns and is imposing significant costs on taxpayers.
Craughwell urged the Leader to call an emergency debate in the Dáil, saying the people of Ireland have a right to know whether the contracted company can fulfil search-and-rescue responsibilities or whether the service should revert to the existing contractor currently covering shortfalls.
He said Shannon is no longer able to provide 24-hour (365) SAR cover, operating only from 8am to 8pm, and that the Sligo base expected to come online has been delayed and may not be operational until April. He warned this leaves 250 miles of Atlantic and Ireland's coastline without full night-time helicopter cover, a particular concern for the West Coast.
Craughwell raised safety issues, citing an incident in Norway involving the same company where a rushed changeover reportedly cost one life and injured five people. He said he had heard of multiple, unreported injuries during training at Sligo and questioned whether crew preparation times were being short-circuited.
He noted the contract was awarded at a cost to taxpayers of some €800 million but suggested, based on past experience, final costs could reach around €1.2 billion. He said the new contractor appears unable to fulfil commitments and that two ministers had informed him in writing they had no oversight of the contract negotiations.
Craughwell also asked members to speak into microphones because he is deaf and relies on the chamber's loop hearing system; he asked colleagues to avoid holding notes in front of microphones so those with hearing loss can follow proceedings.
Emergency debate demand
Craughwell urged the Leader to call an emergency debate in the Dáil, saying the people of Ireland have a right to know whether the contracted company can fulfil search-and-rescue responsibilities or whether the service should revert to the existing contractor currently covering shortfalls.
Operational shortfalls and coverage gaps
He said Shannon is no longer able to provide 24-hour (365) SAR cover, operating only from 8am to 8pm, and that the Sligo base expected to come online has been delayed and may not be operational until April. He warned this leaves 250 miles of Atlantic and Ireland's coastline without full night-time helicopter cover, a particular concern for the West Coast.
Safety and training concerns
Craughwell raised safety issues, citing an incident in Norway involving the same company where a rushed changeover reportedly cost one life and injured five people. He said he had heard of multiple, unreported injuries during training at Sligo and questioned whether crew preparation times were being short-circuited.
Contract cost and oversight
He noted the contract was awarded at a cost to taxpayers of some €800 million but suggested, based on past experience, final costs could reach around €1.2 billion. He said the new contractor appears unable to fulfil commitments and that two ministers had informed him in writing they had no oversight of the contract negotiations.
Accessibility reminder
Craughwell also asked members to speak into microphones because he is deaf and relies on the chamber's loop hearing system; he asked colleagues to avoid holding notes in front of microphones so those with hearing loss can follow proceedings.
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Transcript
Leader, over the last four years, I spent a considerable amount of my time expressing my concerns over the search and rescue contract that was being negotiated at that time. You'll be aware, Leader, as a Galwegian, that the GP from the Iron Islands has expressed, or the former GP, has expressed her deep concern that Shannon is now not able to provide 24-hour 367, or it's 365, should I say, SAR services. They're only open from 8 in the morning until 8 at night. Sligo was supposed to come operational last Friday. It will not now become operational until possibly April. We are in a situation where a contract has been awarded to a contractor that is going to cost the taxpayers of this country some 800 million, and if past experience is anything to go by, it will probably cost 1.2 billion, and the contractor is unable to fulfil the commitments. Now, I think this has gone too far for too long. We already saw the same company involved in Norway trying to short-circuit the changeover time it takes to prepare crews in new aircraft, and one life was lost in Norway, and five people were injured. I am hearing that there are multiple injuries not being reported in the training that's taken place at the moment in Sligo. I am asking you, Leader, to call for an emergency debate in here. The people of Ireland have a right to know what the hell is going on with respect to the search-and-rescue contract for helicopters. Either the company is capable of doing the job, or they are not. And if they are not doing the job, then we need to go back to the existing contractor, who are now taking up the slack for the failure of the new contractor to take over the job. This is crucial in particularly the West Coast, where you yourself are from. No cover from Shannon after 8 o'clock in the evening. 250 miles of Atlantic to cover, and the coastline of the entire length and breadth of Ireland. It is deeply, deeply worrying. The one thing you will recall, during the negotiations for this contract, both Minister Nocton and Minister Ryan informed me in writing that they had no oversight of the negotiations of the contract. One very final point. Sorry, just one very final point. I would ask members when they speak to speak into the microphones. I am deaf. We put in a loop hearing system here, which is really good. But if you hold notes in front of the microphone, I can't hear you. So I would ask people to bear in mind there may be more people deaf in here, not just me. Thank you, sir.