A REVIEW group set up to assess marine rescue services on the east coast has been given until the end of February to present its report. According to the Minister for the Marine, an "enhanced night flying capability" has been provided by the Air Corps for east coast coverage since the end of December.
"I am determined that there will be adequate search and rescue cover to service this busy fishing, leisure and commercial marine area and I have asked the review group to look carefully at what resources are required to do this", Mr Barrett said.
Last November, Mr Timmy Currid (43) from Wexford died when his trawler, the Scarlet Buccaneer, was driven on to the rocks at Howth Harbour during a ferocious storm at night.
An RAF helicopter flew from Wales to assist local rescue services and saved another crew member. A Dauphin helicopter with night time search and rescue capabilities was fully serviced and ready for flight at Baldonnel, 17 miles from Howth, but no crew was available at the time.
Evidence of an improvement in the service since then came on Saturday, January 6th, when the Air Corps flew two night time rescue missions over the east coast during a severe storm. One of the missions was in support of Dun Laoghaire lifeboat and the second in aid of a windsurfer off Malahide, north Co Dublin.
Mr Barrett has also appointed a review group to investigate safety procedures on fishing vessels, following a number of accidents last year.
The group will examine safety procedures, including staffing requirements and training needs, assess the cost of improved measures and make recommendations for change together with a suggested timeframe for implementation. It is due to report to the Minister by the end of May.
"This review will be the most thorough and wide ranging examination ever of the safety of the Irish fishing fleet", Mr Barrett "said. "Its purpose is to establish what actions may be necessary to ensure the highest safety standards... and ultimately to reduce the number of tragedies involving fishing vessels."
The review body will be chaired by Mr Donal O'Mahony, former secretary at the Department of Tourism, Transport and Communications. It will include officials from the Department and the marine rescue service, representatives of fishing organisations, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Naval Service, the Commissioners of Irish Lights and the Department of Finance.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing Greencastle trawler, the Carrickatine, is continuing off the Donegal coast. The search for the trawler and its crew of six is due to continue for a further two to three weeks.