The Department of Transport insists a fully operational unit of the Irish Coast Guard in Doolin is still a priority.
It’s after an independent mediator recommended that members of the unit be permanently stood down.
Kieran Mulvey was appointed to mediate the dispute between members of the Doolin Coast Guard last month, after a number of high profile resignations from the unit.
After meeting with existing and resigned volunteers, along with the Sector Manager of the Region, Mr Mulvey has submitted a 12 page report to the Department of Transport.
That report advises that ‘certain relationships’ within the unit have irretrievably broken down, and the mutual trust, respect and confidence required to effectively operate a Coast Guard Unit does not exist’ within the unit.
In line with the document’s recommendations, members of the unit are to be permanently stood down, and the unit will be ‘re-constituted in the short term’.
Volunteers who the Coast Guard believe can work and operate together are to be appointed on a temporary basis to oversee operations.
Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton says in a statement that a number of further recommendations in the report will also be implemented.
These include further engagement with volunteers and a review of procedures affecting the unit around training, operations, equipment and activities.
The Department says a broader appointment process will begin in due course, with the view to permanently restoring the Coast Guard Unit in the Doolin area.
