Kyne, Seán

Commemorative Events

I thank Senator Daly for raising this Commencement matter. I am taking this item on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, who unfortunately cannot attend the House.

  On Easter Monday of this year, 28 March, a State ceremony took place in Ashbourne, County Meath, to remember Commandant Thomas Ashe and all of those who gave their lives arising from th...

  Some of the most significant Volunteer action outside of Dublin took place at Rathcross, Ashbourne, under the leadership of Thomas Ashe, Richard Mulcahy and Frank Lawless. Thirteen men...

  This year, we have remembered and reflected upon the ultimate sacrifice made by Ashe and all those who gave their lives in order that Ireland’s dream of self-determination could become ...

  The 1916 centenary commemorations were inclusive, respectful and measured, and sought to strengthen peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. The Ireland 2016 centenary progra...

  At all times, the Government has been supported in its plans by the guidance and advice of the expert advisory group on commemorations and the Oireachtas all-party consultation group on...

  In 2018, we will mark the end of the First World War and the general election of 1918 and then move on to commemorate the First Dáil in January 2019. Commemorating the period of the Wa...

  In terms of funding for commemorations, the Department is currently considering the funding breakdown for commemorations in 2017 in the context of finalising the commemoration programme...

As a week is a long time in politics, nine months is an awfully long period concerning issues such as this one. The Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, is currently considering the State's commemo...

  The Minister has indicated that the Thomas Ashe centenary committee and others are also discussing their plans to commemorate this significant event next year in Ashe's birthplace in Li...

Search and Rescue Service Provision

I thank Senator Hopkins for raising this very important Commencement matter with regard to Roscommon Sub Aqua Club and other clubs all over the country, and the great work they do. I am taking thi...

  The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has recently been assigned responsibility for this matter under A Programme for a Partnership Government. I would like to take this oppor...

  These search and rescue units comprise the search and rescue helicopters and Coast Guard volunteer units. Search and rescue units are also declared to the Coast Guard from the RNLI wit...

  As is recommended practice worldwide, search and rescue in Ireland is built upon the rescue centres listening for and receiving distress messages and responding to, sending and co-ordin...

  The network of search and rescue units has been built up over many years and today provides a first-class response to persons and vessels in distress. The location, distribution and re...

  Turning specifically to the matter of underwater search and rescue, I should state that due to the very recent assignment of responsibility to the Department of Transport, Tourism and S...

  Mountain rescue is carried out by dedicated mountain rescue teams who are declared resources to An Garda Síochána to aid in the search for missing persons, in addition to assisting thos...

  The Department does not exercise any operational oversight over mountain rescue teams due to the fact that they are search and rescue resources and are tasked directly by An Garda Síoch...

  These arrangements reflect the inherent risks involved in this type of activity. The Coast Guard, when acting in support of An Garda Síochána in underwater recovery, does not as a gene...

  In light of the above, and specifically the recreational aspect, it is important that this matter is thoroughly analysed and researched, in particular the relationship to the health and...

I will relay the Senator's concerns to the Minister. To be fair, he states he has only recently been assigned responsibility for this area in A Programme for a Partnership Government. As I noted,...

  I acknowledge that some of the equipment used is costly and that the people mentioned are volunteers. Perhaps the Senator might request permission for a delegation to meet the Minister...

  Sitting suspended at 11.25 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.