Former coast guard volunteers call mediation ‘a token gesture’

THE process around trying to solve interpersonal difficulties between Doolin Coast Guard members was a “token gesture” to appease public representatives, former volunteers have claimed.

A number of volunteers have expressed their dissatisfaction the appointment of mediator, Kieran Mulvey did not result in the desired improvement in relations.

On Monday, November 22, Mr Mulvey met separately with the Sector Manager of the region, the existing 12 volunteers, and the six resigned volunteers.

One volunteer claimed Mr Mulvey sat down and went through the whole issue with members.

“He said I will have to compile a report and I will be back down next week with a report of my findings, we will work through it and find a way out.

“We never again saw Kieran Mulvey. The whole purpose of mediation is discussion, compromise, give and take. Then suddenly there is a report and we are all sacked.

“People asked about one-to-one meetings with him because they were not comfortable to talk in a group. He said he was taking the Graphite and other reports as his one-to-one meetings.

“We were told we couldn’t take notes or record anything. He made his mind up on reports written by other people instead of speaking to people individually,” he claimed.

In his report, Mr Mulvey recalled external mediation/communication expertise has been engaged in extensive interaction with each of the volunteers within the Unit.In addition, the department itself at a senior level, has conducted “one to one engagement “over a two-day period last July.

“Regretfully I have formed the conclusion that no form of mediation will lead to a resolution of the matters of disputation in the Unit.

“Some volunteers were expecting a further one to one engagement, but I indicated that the process I was conducting did not envisage such engagements and that the earlier engagements did not lead to a conclusion or resolution of the issues in dispute.

“Despite several efforts by me the volunteers did not respond to my attempts to get an engagement on the identification of the interpersonal difficulties between them and which formed such a major and negative narrative in the Graphite HRM Report of February 2020,” he outlined.

A volunteer took issue with information provided to Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton stating the Coastal Unit Advisory Group (CUAG) look after volunteers’ interpersonal issues and issues with the department.

“GUAG have never ever in their whole existence dealt with any interpersonal problem within the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard have also said they have been elected by volunteers within units. GUAG do not represent all volunteers.”

One volunteer, who was in the Doolin Coast Guard for 20 years, said he never voted for one GUAG person and never heard of any kind of a vote.

Responding to a Dáil question from Deputy Darren O’Rourke, Minister Naughton confirmed as part of the Mulvey Report recommendations, she has recommended an associated review of the Coastal Unit Advisory Group, CUAG, including its terms of reference, grievance, complaints and disciplinary procedures, which should be completed by the end of the month.

“The CUAG members are working with the Coast Guard on that to ensure that the CUAG plays a very strong representative role, representing the volunteers of the Coast Guard. Along with my officials, I have been engaging on a regular basis with the CUAG in relation to that work.

“It acts as the consultative body on matters pertaining to management, training, equipment, administration and roles of the Coast Guard unit. The CUAG has been very effective. This review is going to be key to ensuring that the CUAG has a very strong representative role in relation to HR matters, including grievance procedures, and how they work.

“The work that is currently being done with the Coast Guard is absolutely critical to ensuring that volunteers have all the equipment and wherewithal to deal with grievances and issues that arise.”