Tag Archives: Doolin Coast Guard Unit

THE national Coast Guard has been called upon by an independent senator to explain why it sacked ten people who remained in the Doolin Coast Guard Unit. Speaking at a meeting organised by the Irish Coast Guard Volunteer Representative Association (ICGVRA) in the Bellbridge Hotel on Saturday, Senator Gerard Craughwell said the rationale will either stand or fall based on the Coast Guard’s explanation. He said the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport could investigate why private and confidential information provided by Doolin members during previous meetings with outside consultants was given to independent mediator, Kieran Mulvey. The senator advised members to apply on an individual basis to the Information Commissioner asking how this information was passed on and if there was a breach of GDPR. “If there has been a breach of GDPR, then everything that stems from this breach is no longer valid. The GDPR issue is one that only the Information Commissioner can answer. There are questions that …

A NATIONAL Coast Guard representative body is supporting calls from Clare’s Oireachtas members for the establishment of an independent review of the national management of the Irish Coast Guard organisation. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the national executive of the Irish Coast Guard Volunteers Representative Association (ICGVRA) confirmed it fully supported calls from Clare deputies and senators for an independent inquiry into Irish Coast Guard management. In last week’s Clare Champion, Senator Martin Conway called for fundamental review of Coast Guard operations throughout the country, provided it is independent and it includes a stipulation national management must cooperate as some personnel at national level have serious questions that need to be answered. Deputy Cathal Crowe said he can’t see how Coast Guard units nationwide can perform to their optimum when the national organisation has inadequacies in terms of how it is being led. Independent Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne said she would support an independent review once it provided …

A FORMER Doolin Coast Guard volunteer has revealed he was very hurt when he heard last year how he and his colleagues were regarded as a danger to themselves and others in the unit. Tom Doherty was a former deputy officer in charge of the Doolin Unit and has worked as a ranger in the Cliffs of Moher for the last 16 years, which has helped him to build up a wealth of knowledge about the landscape and where bodies are sometimes found in the sea. As a ranger, he is often the first point of contact when someone dies. This dovetailed very well into his role as a Coast Guard volunteer, which proved invaluable during numerous rescue and recovery missions. Coast Guard director, Eugene Clonan told a Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on Thursday, November 18, 2021, “The Doolin Unit has been having problems for years. Six members resigned and there are 12 members left. Based on what …

AN INDEPENDENT Senator has written to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requesting a full investigation into claims that a life jacket used by a Doolin Coast Guard volunteer may have been faulty before she tragically lost her life six years ago. Mother-of-two Caitríona Lucas (41) had offered to help out the neighbouring Coast Guard unit from Kilkee in the search for a missing man, but she died after its rigid inflatable boat (RIB) capsized in a shallow surf zone on September 12, 2016. Two other crew members on board the RIB, who were also thrown into the sea, survived. Speaking to the Clare Champion, Senator Gerard Craughwell confirmed he has written a letter to the HSA to advise them life jackets provided to Coast Guard volunteers in late 2014 and early 2015 were tested in a number of stations around the country, which allegedly failed in all tests. He has also asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine …

THE MEDIATION process employed by the Irish Coast Guard to try to resolve differences in Doolin Coast Guard last year was only a “box ticking exercise”, a former volunteer has alleged. Bernard Lucas, who spent 20 years volunteering with Doolin Coast Guard, claimed things could have been done differently during the mediation process. “Mediation by its definition is ongoing and could take weeks or two or three months,” Mr Lucas told The Clare Champion. After an extensive process, you might come to the conclusion this isn’t working and we need to rejig it. But how can you do that after after spending 90 minutes apiece with two groups with the six that resigned and the 12 that were left for a total of about three hours? “I was very disappointed with the mediation process,” he said. According to an IRG document, the mediator Kieran Mulvey is a well-respected national mediator and is the former Director General of the Workplace Relations …

A LONG-SERVING former Doolin Coast Guard member has claimed a lot of people in North Clare have been emotionally upset by the fallout from the sacking of 12 volunteers. After joining the Doolin Unit in 2002, Bernard Lucas became a Coast Guard climbing instructor in 2007 and equipment inspector in 2009. Over the last ten years, Mr Lucas has travelled all over the world for Work at Height with another former member Conor McGrath who put safety procedures and carry out rescues if necessary for film productions. When the unit was stood down, he recalled this was blamed on irreconcilable differences between members. But when six members were taken back, he claimed this created the perception the 12 others were the ones causing the problem, that wrongly created a “them and us” situation. “Some of the group of ten were very quiet but were not asked to go back. There was no support put in place for these people. One …

IT took Minister of State with special responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Hildegarde Naughton almost 11 months to meet some volunteers in the Doolin Coast Guard Unit (DCGU) following a public commitment. Minister Naughton visited Doolin Coast Guard Unit in County Clare on October 27 this year to meet with the local volunteer interim team and hear first-hand about their life saving work. However, her visit, attended by only one public representative, Councillor Joe Garrihy, has angered former volunteers after she failed to make any contact with the members who were controversially sacked after the unit was stood down from operations and training activities on November 2, 2021. There were 12 volunteers in DCGU when the unit was disbanded. Former volunteer Robert McCavery said members feel let down by politicians. “Minister Hildegarde Naughton said on Clare FM last year she would visit the unit but she has never met us.” In a statement issued by the Department of Transport …

A FORMER Doolin Coast Guard volunteer has asked how he was “suddenly viewed as a danger to himself and others in the unit after 28 years of service”. Myles Duffy would like an apology for a statement made by Coast Guard director, Eugene Clonan at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Mr Clonan stated, “Doolin Unit has been having problems for years. Six members resigned and there are 12 members left. Based on what I have been told, my belief is the interaction between the team is not safe. “The 12 members are not safe to go out because of the issues that have arisen as a result of the internal conflict. I will not have people going out to sea or climbing cliffs if I do not have confidence in them doing so safely. “I am protecting myself and I am protecting them, but mainly them. We had the loss of Caitriona Lucas. …