Harrington welcomes more efficient approach to maritime safety

Fine Gael Cork South West Deputy, Noel Harrington, has said the new approach to maritime safety announced today (Thursday) by the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar TD, will free-up frontline staff and allow them to focus on keeping our fishermen and recreational seafarers safe.

“Minister Varadkar’s decision to restructure operations by establishing an over-arching maritime safety section within the Department of Transport, which will be called the Irish Maritime Administration, will streamline how the Irish Coast Guard and the Marine Survey Office (MSO) do their business.

“By merging the back-office operations of both bodies, in terms of administrative, IT and technical support, frontline staff will be freed up to provide an emergency maritime response service in the case of the Coast Guard and to ensure that safety standards are being adhered to where the MSO is concerned. There will be no job losses as a result of this move.

“The Action Plan announced by Minister Varadkar aims to improve maritime safety, putting a clear focus on making our seas safer and getting help to those in distress as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“As an island nation, the sea is integral to our lives in so many ways, whether that is through commercial fishing, recreational maritime activity or shipping. The development of Ireland’s first maritime safety strategy, under the Minister’s direction, will help to help improve sea safety and will ultimately save lives.

“The people of Cork know only too well the strength of the sea and the devastating impact it can have on communities. The Irish Maritime Administration will be charged with, among other things, drafting the new Maritime Safety Strategy, which was announced this month at Union Hall, and enhancing volunteer training in the Coast Guard.

“The primary focus of the new Administration will be to reduce the risks posed by the sea. By ensuring that measures are in place to keep our fishermen, sailors and casual sea users safe, we can reduce the number of deaths and injuries and continue to use the sea to maximum benefit of coastal communities.”

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