Valentia action group berates ‘clueless’ minister

A group, formed to save the coastguard station on Valentia, has launched a stinging attack on Junior Minister Dick Roche, claiming “he hasn’t a clue about marine matters”.

The criticism follows a weekend statement by the minister about plans to build, in Shannon, a coastguard station to serve the west coast of Ireland.

But members of the Valentia Save Our Station (SOS) campaign insist the Shannon proposal remains at a very early stage.

The minister, in an RTÉ programme, also made reference to the Irish Lifeguard Service which the Kerry campaign spokesperson Richard Foran said was independent of the coastguard’s future in Valentia.

“He hasn’t a clue about marine matters. He made comments about the lifeboat which is a voluntary organisation and the coastguard — which does not have control of the lifeboats. “It proves Minster Roche does not have a handle on the situation.”

Referring to Minister Roche’s comments to open a station to serve the west coast, Mr Foran said while the idea had been mooted previously, it was the first time a minister had made a public declaration on it.

The group also hit out at some civil servants who, it was claimed, did not want to keep Valentia and Malin coastguard stations open.

“Civil servants do not want to implement Minister Dermot Ahern’s decision in 2003 to upgrade Valencia and Malin coastguard stations. They are planning and scheming to open on the west coast.”

The group say they will continue to fight to keep Valentia lifeguard station.

The Department of Transport, meanwhile, said no decision had been taken on the location of a centre to serve the west coast.

It was also emphasised there would be no job losses in either Valentia or Malin.