The legality of the working hours done by the Shannon unit of the Coast Guard has been questioned in an Oireachtas Committee.
Since, Bristow Ireland took over the contract from CHC, workers completing a 24-hour shift have been required to sleep on-site during breaks, rather than going home.
Now, however, unless crews are tasked during expected rest time, their shifts will only be logged as 16.5 hours long, with Coast Guard personnel only allowed to work a maximum of 2,000 hours per year.
Speaking in the Oireachtas Transport Committee, Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe says the practice is artificially lowering employee work time.
You can listen to the full interview here:
A spokesperson for Bristow Ireland said:
“Bristow Ireland is grateful for the opportunity to appear before the Joint Committee on Transport this week. We are proud to have been awarded the contract to deliver Search and Rescue aviation operations in Ireland.
Our approach to this vital role is consistent with our Search and Rescue operations all around the world: safety is, and will always be, our first priority.
We abide by all the regulations, rules, legislation and requirements which strictly govern our service, at all times.
As we continue the transition to the new contract, we remain fully committed to engaging with all stakeholders — from the skilled men and women in our teams to Trade Unions, Regulators, the IRCG, the Department of Transport, and many others — to deliver a safe, effective, and lifesaving service that people and communities across Ireland can be proud of.”
