Independent mediation team urgently needed in Doolin Coastguard debacle

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  • Issues with remit of coastguard work also need to be addressed
  • Minister must appoint mediators to end dispute

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for an independent team of mediators to be appointed as a matter of urgency, with a view to bringing an end to the ongoing dispute surrounding the Doolin Coastguard.

At present, there is no operational coastguard team in place at Doolin due to the issues that are persisting there, meaning one of the country’s busiest and most important stations is lying idle.

“I’m calling for the Department of Transport and the Irish Coastguard to immediately establish a fully independent mediation team to engage with all volunteers at the Doolin Irish Coastguard Station,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It’s my belief that there are two major issues at stake here – one is a HR interpersonal problem; the other relates to frustrations that the Doolin volunteers and indeed other coastguard volunteers nationally have with the higher echelons of their organisation.

“I believe that a fully independent mediation team could help to unlock whatever interpersonal problems that exist so that the base can get back to a relatively normal level of operations.

“With 12 of the 18 volunteers still registered with the Irish Coastguard, I think there’s also scope to reopen the base as soon as possible.

“Irish Coastguard stations typically have a minimum crew level for various operations such as launching a craft at sea, cliff rescue missions, administering first aid, supporting land and air ambulance crews, and some of these could be adequately filled by the 12 members still registered.

“Whilst it’s hugely disappointing that there’s been a mass resignation of six members, overall, the station shouldn’t close its doors.

“Minister Eamon Ryan and his departmental team need to have oversight as to what has gone wrong and to urgently address the problems that volunteers have faced but I hope and believe that some of this could happen parallel to a mediation process getting underway.

“Over the past year, I’ve spoken with quite a number of Irish Coastguard members throughout the country and they’re rather aggrieved that the service that they have provided for many years has been watered down by senior management of the organisation in its Dublin headquarters.

“In years gone by, coastguard stations would have been actively involved in cliff edge rescues and over-cliff rescues but increasingly so, they’re being asked to refrain from these.

“I also think that the level of training and refresher courses made available to them is inadequate.

“Minister Ryan needs to intervene in this matter on a national level and ensure that the Irish Coastguard is fully equipped and fully skilled in all competencies to ensure that those who go to sea and indeed those who explore the remote coastal part of our country do so in the knowledge that their local coastguard base has the authority, manpower and ability to keep them safe.”

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Work must immediately begin to find new investor for Moneypoint offshore development

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  • Equinor pulls out of ESB partnership
  • Hope still on the horizon for offshore windfarm

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling on the ESB and the government to immediately put their heads together and find a replacement partner for the offshore wind development planned for near Moneypoint in West Clare.

Norwegian firm Equinor has pulled out of the Irish market, having previously reached an agreement with the ESB to develop a major 1.4GW wind farm using floating technology, at a cost of €2 billion.

“Whilst it’s very disappointing that Equinor have withdrawn from their partnership with the ESB to develop the offshore Green Atlantic windfarm, I think the project can still very much proceed,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It has been widely reported in the media today that the outdated planning and regulatory systems in Ireland pertaining to the development of offshore projects has been a major factor in Equinor’s withdrawal, but I don’t necessarily believe that this is the biggest reason.

“Currently, much of what happens along Irish coastlines is dictated by the Foreshore Act of 1933.

“This legislation is totally outdated and unfit for purpose and served this country at a time when it still had steam powered boats.

“For the last 18 months, a new piece of legislation to overhaul offshore projects Maritime Area Planning Bill has been working its way through the Houses of the Oireachtas and is now around six weeks away from being fully enacted.

“This piece of legislation will supersede the 1933 Act and ensure that Ireland has a planning and regulatory framework equal to, if not better, than most other EU states.

“Whilst we should all be very grateful to Equinor for progressing the Green Atlantic project to this stage, it must also be noted that they were happy to partner in this project at a time when a modern offshore planning regime was a mere pipeline dream.

“Now this legislation is only weeks away from being a reality.

“There are many other companies who I believe will find the project to be very attractive and I will be asking government and the ESB to immediately engage with some of these companies so that the project doesn’t encounter any delays.

“When developed, the Green Atlantic project will be a key component of Ireland providing more than 80% of its energy needs from renewables and getting out country closer to 2050 carbon reduction targets.

“From a Clare point of view, the project and Moneypoint breath new hope into a part of our county that was hugely concerned about the future of the Moneypoint Power Station.

“With coal burning operations being wound down, all hopes now rest on the transition to wind energy offshore.

“Beyond generating electricity from offshore wind turbines, Moneypoint will also be a centre of excellence for developing new wind turbine technologies which will be used not only in the locality but also nationally and globally.

“The withdrawal of Equinor certainly won’t bury this project but it’s imperative that every effort is now made to ensure that a new partner is found and the project proceeds as swiftly as possible.”

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Urgent intervention needed to reinstate Doolin Coastguard

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  • Dispute has seen multiple resignations
  • Eamon Ryan must intervene in capacity as Minister

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for swift and immediate action to be taken by government to reinstate the Doolin Coastguard as a matter of urgency.

It follows news that the unit has been stood down, after the resignation of six volunteers with the service, meaning that the remaining members are unable to respond to emergency callouts.

“I’m calling on Minister Eamon Ryan to intervene in the matter of the closed Irish Coastguard station at Doolin,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Minister Ryan, in his role as Transport Minister, has supreme authority over the Irish Coastguard system and he needs to urgently intervene to ascertain the full nature of HR problems which has led to this breakdown and the resignation of volunteers.

“The Doolin coastguard base is one of the busiest in the country because it covers a large area of the Atlantic coast, including one of Ireland’s most visited sites – the Cliffs of Moher – and also the Aran Islands, the most populous island community in Ireland.

“The volunteers have given many years of excellent service and I know that many people involved in tourism and marine activities in west Clare are now very concerned that this essential base has been temporarily closed.

“It’s vital that there is expediency at this point to ensure that the matters which are central to this dispute are identified and resolved.

“We should highly value the men and women who put their lives at risk to keep others safe at sea and I intend to raise this matter during question time in the Dáil on Thursday afternoon.

“This matter cannot go unresolved.”

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Significant benefits for rural transport in Clare under NTA proposals

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  • National 25% increase in rural bus services proposed
  • Several key Clare routes namechecked

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is urging people living across the Banner County to have their say in the public consultation period of the National Transport Authority’s Connecting Ireland plan.

The plan proposes a 25% increase in rural bus services in Ireland over the course of five years, highlighting a number of key routes and areas of Clare.

“It is very encouraging to see the National Transport Authority recognise and recommend changes that are needed in terms of the provision of rural transport in Ireland,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Clare is a largely rural county and for those who don’t have access to a car, or who used to but cannot now drive, it’s incredibly isolating to be cut off from our towns and cities.

“We’ve seen far too many cuts to our public transport routes so to have formal recognition for the need to increase the provision of rural transport is most, most welcome.

“In terms of specific changes looked at in our county, I’m extremely glad to see that the NTA is recommending enhanced local services between Lahinch and Kilkee; from Kilrush and Killimer and Ennis; between Sixmilebridge, Limerick and Shannon as well as between Scariff, Killaloe, Ballycannon and Limerick.

“Our position as a county slotted between two major cities has also been recognised, with the NTA targeting Ennis and Galway and Limerick, but moreover onwards to Cork too.

“In terms of other urban centres, there’s also the suggestion to link Ennis with Portumna, Ballinasloe and Nenagh, taking in a number of villages en route, while Shannon Airport’s importance has been namechecked by ensuring increased services between the airport and the region’s main cities.

“Clare’s rural status has seen decades of depopulation and the demise of local services but the past 18 months has shown us how beneficial rural living can be.

“With a significant move towards working from home, as well as increased transport links and other necessary services, I am confident that rural Clare has a buoyant future coming down the tracks.

“I would encourage all who have a vested interest in our county to have their say on the Connecting Ireland plan by logging onto the NTA’s website.”

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Hydrogen powered aircraft enter Irish aviation sector

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  • ASL Aviation signs partnership with Universal Hydrogen
  • Significant step towards reducing carbon emissions

 

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe has hailed the announcement of plans for hydrogen powered cargo aircraft in Ireland as the beginning of the decarbonisation of the aviation sector.

Irish company ASL Aviation Holdings has announced the plans today, in collaboration with US firm Universal Hydrogen.

The move will see Universal Hydrogen conversion kits installed on the existing fleet of ATR 72 planes owned by ASL and operated on services for its major customers throughout Europe.

“Today’s announcement really is a landmark one for Irish and European aviation,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This move will mean a significant step towards net-zero emissions as soon as it’s practicable.

“While today’s announcement is very much cargo-focused, it gives huge hope that we will see a similar move for passenger airlines in the not-so-distant future.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, commercial aviation accounted for about 2.5% of global emissions of carbon dioxide – to some, this probably sounds like a small proportion of the whole, but it is more than the whole of Germany (2.2%) – and that’s not even the whole story.

“I welcome this announcement and I firmly believe that making Ireland a centre for this cutting-edge technology could create a huge amount of potential investment across the island.

“I would also hope that as ASL continues to grow thanks to this partnership, that Shannon Airport continues to benefit from their operations – as they already perform a lot of their business from our airport.

“The climate emergency is well documented at this stage and it’s been a challenge for this generation to move to a more sustainable and tackling aviation in this way is one of the most exciting developments we’ve seen in quite some time.”

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300 jobs secured and expansion on the horizon as AAG acquires Lufthansa Technik Shannon

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  • Significant investment in Shannon’s aviation
  • 300 jobs secured

 

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Tourism and Aviation Cathal Crowe has welcomed the announcement today that the Atlantic Aviation Group has acquired Lufthansa Technik Shannon – securing 300 jobs at the facility.

Today’s announcement has also been confirmed by AAG to be of strategic importance in terms of future growth and expansion of their operations in Shannon.

“This is a massively welcome development for not only the Atlantic Aviation Group but also Shannon Airport and aviation in the Midwest as a whole,” said Deputy Crowe.

“It’s been four months since Lufthansa Technik began carrying out a review of its Shannon operations – a move that was a huge concern to all with a vested interest in aviation in the Midwest.

“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, some 500 workers were employed by the firm in Shannon – this now stands at around 300, with all of these employees to come under the AAG umbrella once the acquisition is complete.

“Both companies will now spend the remainder of the year ensuring a clean and smooth transition into the new era for AAG.

“Today’s announcement is significant in terms of what it means for aviation in the Midwest.

“AAG is now by far the largest MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) operator in the country and to have that based here on our doorstep is hugely valuable.

“I am particularly interested in AAG’s future growth plans, as highlighted in today’s announcement, and I look forward to working directly with the management team in terms of assisting in any way possible to ensure that this growth takes place in Shannon and the Midwest.”

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Farmers should be awarded carbon credits rather than penalised

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  • Database of planting already in existence
  • Would help meet climate goals

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe is calling for farmers to be rewarded with carbon credits based on the level of planting on their land, rather than operating a system of penalisation.

Deputy Crowe wants to see farmers incentivised to have areas of their land planted with native trees, in an effort to help Ireland reach its climate targets, as part of the ongoing negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy.

“Speaking at the public consultation meeting relating to the CAP review in Ennis Mart, I asked Minister Charlie McConalogue to ensure that, as negotiations on CAP deepen, farmers in Clare and throughout Ireland who have trees growing on their property should be awarded carbon credits for the sequestration that these trees provide,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Some farmers would have large parts of their land planted while others may just have hedgerows incorporating native species like ash, beech and oak.

“Regardless of what quantity of trees they have growing on their property, the Department of Agriculture and EU Commission on Agriculture have thorough data of the extent of planting on each landholding.

“Digitised maps and aerial imagery, which are used to determine the extent of one’s Single Farm Payment, provide a lot of detail in terms of hedgerow and tree plantations.

“This information is available to both the department and commission in percentage terms of the overall landholding and I think that percentage should be used to provide each farmer with a carbon credit.

“This year, government is preparing its first ever carbon budget and whilst each sector will be impacted by this, I think insofar as farmers are concerned, we need to take a more carrot, less stick approach.

“For centuries, farmers have been custodians of the landscape and most are practitioners of environmental farming.

“I have also spoken with Minister McConalogue about opportunities such as solar panels on the roofs of farm sheds, which farmers could be incentivised to provide.

“I hope that the government and the EU can look at ways of carbon crediting farmers, as opposed to penalising them.”

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Energy retrofit works completed at St Anne’s Community College

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  • Part of Pathfinder 2020 programme
  • Energy rating raised from D to B

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has welcomed the completion of an energy retrofit project for St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe.

Under the Department of Education’s and SEAI Pathfinder 2020 project, the school building has undergone substantial upgrading works including improvements to the school building envelope and fabric including wall insulation, attic insulation, new roofs, windows and doors and more.

“As someone who served on the school’s board of management for over a decade, I very much welcome this initiative undertaken by St Anne’s to bring the building in line with the most modern of standards,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Bringing the school up to a B energy rating will not only result in lower heating costs for the building, it will also mean that St Anne’s will lead the way in terms of being energy efficient and more sustainable going forward.

“The building was built in the 1980s and while it has served as a fantastic school for generations of kids in Killaloe-Ballina and the surrounding villages, it was in need of an upgrade to bring it in line with modern standards.

“The pathfinder project is an important aspect of delivering the Department’s commitments under the Climate Action plan and marks a significant investment in achieving these goals and I’m thrilled that a Clare school is one of those that is leading the movement.

“I look forward to this pilot scheme being rolled out more widely and I hope that more Clare schools can benefit from it.”

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Pyrite redress scheme for Clare on the cards by Christmas

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  • Crowe meets with Housing Minister to seek assurances
  • Commitment is there to address Clare issues

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has expressed confidence that a pyrite redress scheme will be operational for effected homeowners in Clare ahead of Christmas.

Deputy Crowe has met with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to seek assurances that any changes emerging from the ongoing review of the scheme currently operational for counties Donegal and Mayo would be applied to this county, once a scheme is launched here.

“I have met with Minister Darragh O’Brien, as a follow-up to his visit to Clare to meet with the Clare Pyrite Action Group,” said Deputy Crowe.

“Minister O’Brien assures me that the review of the redress scheme currently operational in Mayo and Donegal will very shortly conclude and any benefits that are accrued following the conclusion will also pass on to homeowners in Clare.

“I am confident that a redress scheme will be up and running in Clare before Christmas and I believe that they will benefit from the immense effort being made for improved redress, up to 100%, in Donegal and Mayo.

“It is vital that a redress scheme in Clare is approved in the quickest possible time – they took several years to devise and implement in other counties and we should learn from mistakes that have been made.

“In particular, I am concerned to see houses once considered to be Category 2 properties (i.e. could be repaired) have now deteriorated to the point where they are now Category 4 properties (i.e. requiring demolition).

“Any procrastination in having a scheme operational in Clare will cause prolonged anguish for the homeowners but will also prove more costly to the taxpayer.

“Separately, I am asking Minister O’Brien to initiate legal action against the quarries and block manufacturers who sold defective blocks in Co. Clare and beyond.

“I think this action needs to be treated as a separate issue from the redress scheme.

“If the two are intertwined, it will most likely lead to further delays in redress.

“A separate legal process needs to get underway. Some of these companies continue to trade very profitably and it’s only right that they too should have to pay some compensation.”

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National Development Plan gives hope to unsewered villages in Clare

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  • Minister reiterates commitment to Broadford
  • Hope on the horizon for Cooraclare, Doolin and Carrigaholt

 

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has held a meeting with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien following yesterday’s announcement of the National Development Plan and received assurances for the unsewered villages of Co. Clare.

Under the plan, Irish Water is to receive a significant budget of €6 billion, while an additional €243m has been allocated to advance projects that are outside the realm of Irish Water.

In essence, this means that local authorities such as Clare County Council would be able to advance small, localised sewerage and water schemes in villages.

“I have met with Minister Darragh O’Brien this afternoon and he has promised me that this additional money that his department now has will be used to design a pilot scheme for small towns and villages over the coming months,” said Deputy Crowe.

“This pilot scheme paves the way for villages like Broadford, Carrigaholt, Doolin and Cooraclare to finally be in a position to have 21st century sewerage infrastructure.

“I expect of the Clare villages requiring this, that Broadford will be first off the mark given that land has already been acquired, planning is approved, and it is for all intents and purposes a shovel-ready project.

“Last month, Minister O’Brien visited Broadford and gave a very positive indication to PJ Mason and other members of the Broadford Action Committee that he intends to deliver on their local sewerage scheme – a project that has seen far too many false dawns.

“With hopes high that Broadford can be the first village in our county to benefit from this scheme, I hope to work closely with the other unsewered villages of Co. Clare to ensure that they too become beneficiaries in the second, third and subsequent years of the scheme.

“Many people find it hard to comprehend that, in this day and age, some villages are still without a sewerage system.

“I have been in many homes in Clare where sewerage flushed down a toilet flows into either sub-standard septic tanks or gravel soak pits at the rear of the house.

“This becomes problematic when you have a concentration of houses close by to each other and watercourses nearby that are used for domestic consumption.

“Lack of sewerage infrastructure also hugely limits how a village can grow.

“Villages like Broadford, Carrigaholt, Cooraclare and Doolin can look forward to a bright future once they have this type of infrastructure in situ.”

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