Malin Costguard and Frank Fahey

Sponge Bob

You will all be delighted to hear that Frank Fahey the Galway West TD has an opinion on the closure of Malin Coastguard Station . Frank does not believe that Malin should be closed in favour of Shannon but is actively lobbying as Chairman of the Transport Committee in the Dáil for it to be moved to Galway instead.

Frank spoke to the Galway Independent. First he said to the Independent (off the record)

The controversy over the relocation of the country's marine rescue services could result in a boost for Galway, with unconfirmed reports that a new marine co-ordination centre will be located here.



A well-placed source ( = Frank ) told the Galway Independent yesterday that Galway is being "seriously considered" for the new service.



It had been thought that the base would be located at Shannon, where the Coastguard helicopters are currently based.

"Meanwhile the 'official' Frank Fahey had this to say (on the record) to the same journalist at the same time.

told the Galway Independent that it's clear there has to be "rationalisation of the service" but that he is awaiting the decision of Minister Noel Dempsey. "

Funnily enough it was rationalised about 4 years ago Frank. It was rationalised OUT of Dublin and TO Malin and Valentia by Dermot Ahern.

Donegal people are advised to thank Frank for his farsightedness, possibly on www.frankfahey.ie although Frank has not touched that website of his in a year .

Maybe a letter or a fax instead , eh!

http://www.galwayindependent.com/local-news/local-news/galway-could-get-new-marine-rescue-centre/

We love Frank here in Galway, he does soooOOOoo much for us .

smashey

Great work Frank. :rolleyes: Considering that Killybegs is the biggest fishing port in the country and not forgetting Greencastle, it will be might handy having this great service in Galway. :mad:

Bligh

The whole situation would be described by CJ Haughey as "grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre, and unprecedented" The people in the department of transport and coast guard management are doing their best to take jobs out of Donegal and Kerry. The case they have made for this is the most insulting concoction of lies, they have said people don’t want to work in Malin head, there is no jobs for partners no schools for their children, esb is no good, there is not enough of eircom lines in the area. Which is amazing cause there was 50 applications for the last round of jobs at Malin alone, there is plenty of schools in the area and all the guys that work there have wifes/partners that are employed. Here's another strange point if they build a new west coast MRCC who will work there?

No one in Malin is interested in moving and the department say no one will be forced to move and it looks like there will be a recruitment embargo

This is not a good idea, experienced people in Malin that have been dealing with emergences for years around the coast will leave the service rather than move, this will impact on safety. The politians have no clue about the real situation and are been fed lies by people with an alternative agenda and their agenda has the safety of life at sea at the very bottom of that list

muffler

Nothing surprises me any more.

lostexpectation

but it moving to shannon!

Bligh

lostexpectation wrote: »

but it moving to shannon!

Not anymore its Not

Frank Fahay bite my metal shiny ass as bender would say - some good news for Donegal and theres not a lot of that lately

Press release below

Irish Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centres
>
> The Minister of State for Transport, Noel Ahern T.D. today announced
> that the Government, having considered the matter fully and taken into
> account the various views expressed has decided to retain the present
> configuration for the delivery of Marine Rescue Co-ordination. This
> is based on a Marine Rescue Co-ordination centre in Dublin and two Sub
> Centres at Malin and Valentia.
>
> The need to urgently upgrade the existing equipment has been
> recognised and the purchase of three Integrated Communication System
> (ICS) cores at a cost of approximately €2.5 million has been approved.
> One will be located at each centre. Tendering procedures for the
> necessary radio equipment is at an advanced stage and delivery and
> installation of the first Integrated Communication System (ICS) core
> in Dublin will be in late 2009 with work at Malin and Valentia to
> commence in 2010. This phasing ensures that full national coverage is
> maintained while development work takes place.
>
> Proposals to develop the Dublin Centre, where a move from the present
> location is necessary, are underway. This will improve the function
> and capacity of this location as a full Marine Rescue Co-ordination
> centre. Building work is expected to commence in Q2 2009. The
> intention is to move the MRCC from its present site in the Nurses home
> to the main Department of Transport building in Leeson Lane.
>
> The other ICS cores are to be located in Malin and Valentia. Each ICS
> core will be linked to a range of Coast Guard remote aerial sites
> which will ensure the capacity to retain full national coverage should
> one of the centres go offline.
>
> This decision means that the capacity and flexibility of the national
> maritime and rescue communications system will be considerably
> enhanced. The Minister commented that this represents a significant
> step in the ongoing development of maritime safety services in Ireland
> which will continue in the years ahead.
>
> ENDS
>

Senna

Nice to have a happy ending to a post regarding more possible losses to Donegal.

Yet another blow to Fahey, he'll be trying to bring the World Cup to galway next.:rolleyes: