Water users must take more personal responsibility and must not assume that rescue services will always be at hand, the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, has warned.
The clear safety warning was issued by the Minister of State at Sligo Airport in Strandhill at the weekend when he marked the transfer of the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue base from the Air Corps to the contract company, CHC Helicopters.
Paying tribute to the 40-year record of the Air Corps in search and rescue, the Minister also welcomed the new CHC crew which will run the base on a 12-hour basis until it is upgraded to 24-hour cover early in the new year.
By March 2005, "if not earlier", the Sligo base would offer a quality of service equal to that delivered at the other three Irish Coast Guard helicopter bases in Shannon, Dublin and Waterford, Mr Gallagher said.
Search and rescue was "not just about helicopters" and involved the impressive RNLI lifeboat network, Irish Coast Guard shore units, the coast radio stations at Malin, Valentia and Dublin and the support of other State and voluntary services including the Garda, fire brigades, ambulances and hospitals, Mr Gallagher said.
Among those attending the ceremony at Sligo Airport were the director of the Irish Coast Guard, Capt Liam Kirwan, and several award-winning members of the Irish Coast Guard network, including winchman Mr Noel Donnelly and Mr Seán McHale.
The men and women involved in the emergency services were "like politicians" in that they had to be available on a 24 hour basis, Mr Gallagher said.
"Their work brings joy as well as pain, and can be physically and emotionally draining. Their selfless giving of time and talents is greatly appreciated. That said, I would prefer if their services were only called on sparingly," the Minister said, referring particularly to recreational incidents.
"All users of our marine facilities must be clear that they are responsible for their own safety in the first instance. People must wear lifejackets, they should be fully trained in their own pursuits and be fully aware of relevant safety procedures."
Responding to a call from the Green Party this week for State acquisition of an emergency towing vessel, the Minister said that a report had been compiled for Government on this and he would be examining it in the light of recent incidents - including the rescue of the Canadian submarine, HMS Chicoutimi, which occurred initially in the British search and rescue zone, and this week's grounding of a 2,200 tonne bulk carrier, MV Seabrise at the mouth of Kinsale Harbour, Co Cork.
The decision to privatise all of the State's helicopter search and rescue services was taken last December by the former defence minister, Mr Michael Smith, after €11 million had been spent by the State on upgrading Air Corps crews to medium-range helicopter rescue and leasing a medium-range Sikorsky S-61.
The former minister had promised that a replacement service for the north west, would be in place by last Spring. However, Air Corps pilots were forced to continue cover at the base, while being given no guarantees about their own future in search and rescue. They were finally transferred back to Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, west Dublin, in early October.
