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by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent
SEANAD Éireann will
today spend two hours debating the proposed closure
of Malin Head and Valentia Coast Guard radio rescue
co-ordination centres and representatives of the
local organisations opposed to the closure will be
in attendance.
Groups opposed to the closure met on Monday night in
Buncrana to discuss their approach to the debate.
Lobbying will step up the gears with Letterkenny
Institute of Technology due to present a report on
communications technology in Inishowen that will
refute claims that the electricity and telephone
system at Malin Head aren’t up to standard.
“It’s a real bone of contention,” said Donegal North
East TD Niall Blaney. “The big question bearing on
everyone here is whether there will be a downgrading
of services that results in loss of life. I don’t
think the Minister would make such a decision.”
“There is a lot of uncertainty, but the book isn’t
closed yet,” he said. “I’m working hard with Senator
Cecilia Keaveney behind to the scenes on retaining
the Malin Head station.”
Senator Keaveney helped organise a meeting between
the Inishowen Development Partnership and Minister
for Transport Noel Dempsey recently where the group
rebutted the findings of a civil service report that
recommended the effective closure of the Malin Head
and Valentia rescue co-ordination centres.
“It claimed that there was lack of applicants for
positions at Malin Head,” Senator Keaveney said.
“That was refuted, and with the decommissioning
scheme for whitefish trawlers there will be a large
number of experienced fishermen who would have
relevant skills for future vacancies that arise at
Malin Head.”
“I am delighted that Malin Head and Valentia are
working together and I will be asking the Minister
on Wednesday why he’s trying to fix something that
isn’t broken,” Senator Keaveney continued. “It
doesn’t make sense to create an argument in Donegal
and Kerry. Mend what’s there and decentralise other
parts of the Department of the Marine to Drogheda.”
Seamus Bovaird, a board member of the Inishowen
Development Partnership who has been heavily
involved in the campaign to retain the station at
Malin, has questioned the siting of proposed
Drogheda headquarters.
“That location is less than 80 miles from the
existing Northern Ireland coastguard at Orlock Head
in the Ards Peninsula,” he said, pointing out that
the British coastguard has responsibility for more
than 80% of the Irish Sea, rendering the Drogheda
location obsolete. “And with the Irish area of
responsibility for search and rescue being extended
by more than 200 miles north and west of Malin Head,
closure of the station would be a retrograde step.” |
