Staff at Malin Head are delighted
A CAMPAIGN backed by Donegal deputy and Government TD Joe McHugh to save Malin Head Coast Guard station from closure has succeeded.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed to Deputy McHugh in the past few minutes that the Donegal station and Valencia Island in Kerry will continue to operate.
There has been widespread support for the retention of services at the Donegal coast guard station since a report recommended its closure.
The move saves 15 jobs and guarantees the future of the recently modernised Donegal facility.
Deputy McHugh had actually attended an event in support of staff last month.
“I am absolutely delighted,” Deputy McHugh told Donegal Daily.
“This is great news and is as a result of common sense and due consideration.
“Volunteers and supporters of Malin Head Coast Guard station as well as the staff will be delighted at this news today.”
Mr Varadkar said studies concluded the retention of all three stations was the best way forward using modern technologies.
He said consultants were working on an action plan to implement better practices – but this would happen at Dublin, Kerry and Donegal.
“The retention of Malin Head and Valentia Island coastguard stations will preserve the long-standing relationships between fishermen and the Malin Head and Valentia Island stations, which are a vitally important element in delivering the high quality coastguard services on which Irish fishermen and the Irish marine industry rely,” said Deputy McHugh.
“I applaud Minister Varadkar and coastguard service workers for the very sensible approach taken following the presentation of the Fisher ‘Value for Money’ Report to the Government last summer. Minister Varadkar obviously gave consideration to the findings of the report; he equally made time to speak with coastguard operatives, and he travelled personally to Malin Head coastguard station to observe the work that operators carry out there.
“I brought Minister Varadkar to Malin Head coastguard station on July 27th last, so that he could see first-hand the quality of the service it provides. I also met with Minister Varadkar in his office at the Department of Transport on two occasions to emphasise my belief that any changes to Irish coastguard services should strengthen the roles of Malin Head and Valentia Island coastguard stations. I also participated in a public meeting at Malin Head coastguard centre on this matter on October 5th.
“The confidence that Irish coastguard workers have shown in the quality of the service that they provide has been very strong, right since the publication of the Fisher Report last July. Coastguard staff may have been tempted to react unilaterally to the publication of the report; instead, the operators took a positive approach and engaged proactively with Minister Varadkar.
“In these difficult times, it is not possible to win every political battle. Thankfully, common sense has prevailed in the review of coastguard services.”
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