Irish Lights set their own beacon

YOUR report headlined ‘Calls to review British ownership of lighthouse’ presented some interesting ‘facts’ (March 4).

For the record, the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) are mandated by the Government to discharge Ireland’s obligations under the UN Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.

We are a true cross-border organisation, having assets and employees North and South.

We own and operate these assets from our new headquarters in Dun Laoghaire which was officially opened by President Mary McAleese last month.

We are proud to have national responsibility for providing an integrated aids-to-navigation service for the safety of all mariners.

CIL derives its income mainly from charging of “light dues” on commercial shipping entering Irish ports. As many vessels use Irish aids to navigation when passing our coasts, but do not enter Irish ports, all light dues collected in Scotland, England, Wales, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are pooled in a central fund called the General Lighthouse Fund.

The Secretary of State of the Department of Transport in London administers (not owns) this fund and releases the operating costs to the three general lighthouse authorities — Trinity House, Northern Lights and Irish Lights.

Under an agreement reached between the Irish Government and the British government in 1985, the operating costs of Irish Lights in Ireland are supplemented by an annual Irish Government contribution to the General Lighthouse Fund. It is this contribution that is currently under review and which will be agreed between the two ministers involved.

Capt Kieran O’Higgins

Head of Marine

Commissioners of Irish Lights

Harbour Road

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin